The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) says access to justice in the North Rift region has been enhanced tremendously following the establishment of more courts and posting of additional judicial officers.
LSK branch chairman Oscar Oduor says residents can now more easily access court services after the judiciary set up more courts in both urban and rural areas.
“In terms of access to justice in this region we are doing quite well unlike before because we have court in areas like Moiben and Turbo among other areas where Kenyans can easily access the judiciary”, said Oduor.
He said Eldoret now has more than 7 judges, 12 magistrates and an Appeals Court all of whom Oduor says were helping to reduce case backlogs at courts in the region.
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Odious spoke as the LSK embarked on an ambitious initiative aimed at empowering its members in a bid to cope with work pressure, stress at work.
Records indicate that many lawyers had in the recent past committed suicide due to work related pressure, according to LSK.
Lawyer Jacqueline Ingutiah who is a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) representing LSK said since the e-filing system was adopted, there's has been little interaction with members.
“With reduces interaction, many lawyers go through a lot of issues on their own but as LSK we think it’s time we intervened to interact more and know each other better”, she said.
Oduor and Ingutiah spoke during LSK North Rift Fun Day held at Zion Gardens in Soy sub county, Uasin Gishu County, Ingutiah noted that since 2022 to date, more than 8,000 lawyers have been admitted to the bar.
"Such events are welcome. The Advocates benefolent fund association also has such programmes and we need to ensure these welfare initiatives are inculcated in our practice through well-intentioned and properly maintained mentorship programmes so that we get to learn from each other and get to engage and built a stronger and resilient profession," Ingutiah said.
"Behind lawyers in their ropes, files and deadlines, we have families and live within communities," she added.
Oduor noted that advocates face alot of pressure in the line of duty.
“Lawyers are human beings and go through a lot of issues including stress which we have to handle together through such welfare activities”, said Oduor.
The country marked Katiba Day on 27 August which according to Ingutiah is a great milestone worth celebrating.
"We often speak of the Constitution as a document, yet its deeper significance lies in the promise it makes about the relationship between the people and public power," she said.
" The Constitution transforms public office from a source of privilege into an obligation of service and accountability," Ingutiah added.
She said Constitutional commissions and independent offices should never be viewed as inconvenient appendages to executive, judiciary or parliament.
"Their capacity to question, investigate, advise, challenge and sometimes disagree with those exercising power is not evidence of institutional dysfunction, it is part of the constitutional design," Ingutiah said.
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