Chief Justice Martha Koome has strongly condemned the rising cases of abductions and femicide in the country, saying such acts of lawlessness should not be tolerated in a progressive country.
Koome said the country is guided by the rule of law and the constitution and that the rights of every Kenyan should be protected at all times.
Speaking during a Judiciary Open Day forum at Thika Law Courts, CJ Koome said the Judiciary will not relent in its duty to uphold justice, adding that it remains steadfast in upholding the rule of law without fear or favour.
She said instead of holding abductees for days, weeks, or months, those involved should present them in court for a fair hearing.
She added that the Judiciary is ready to listen to those matters, even if it means extending working hours to ensure everyone gets timely justice.
“As a mother, I am deeply disturbed when I hear about these abductions and femicide cases. I put myself in the shoes of that parent whose child was abducted, and for days on, months on, they don’t know where their child is. Kenya is a country guided by the rule of law with the constitution and several other statutes, the penal code, and the criminal procedure code, which define every crime. If people abducted are suspected of committing any crime, they should be taken to court and not held incommunicado,” she said.
The Chief Justice also used the platform to highlight the Judiciary’s ongoing efforts to enhance service delivery to wananchi despite financial constraints, including opening new courts across the country.
She emphasized the need for increased funding to facilitate a more efficient judicial system.
“The funds allocated to the Judiciary must be doubled to enable us to deliver justice effectively. We need more judges and magistrates to help clear the backlog of cases in our courts,” she noted.
By Muoki Charles