Migori Law Courts and the Children’s Department have joined forces to sensitize parents and guardians on laws governing children’s rights.
Speaking during the annual children’s service week held at Migori Primary School, Migori Magistrate Naomi Wairimu said that the court has been having forums with village elders and chiefs on the issue of kangaroo courts that keep infringing on the rights of children and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Wairimu said that Migori courts were working in unison to ensure they finalize cases involving children before schools’ open in January to reduce school absenteeism to minors that testify in court.
She said that the court staff will also be visiting mothers who have been incarcerated together with their children at Migori prison to give hope and if possible see if the children can be incorporated back into society to live a normal life.
The judiciary also disclosed that they had visited the Manga Juvenile Remand home based in Migori to find ways through which they could finalize the minor’s cases to obtain the justice that they deserve.
She, however, noted that most cases that involve the children are cases of defilement and child negligence that require children to testify before the court.
“The reason we have the children’s service week is to expedite matters involving children through the court user’s committee and stakeholders to ensure that all cases involving children are expedited and complainants are heard as soon as possible, and no cases involving children are withdrawn,” said Wairimu.
The children’s Officer in charge of Suna West Sub County Robert Ouko requested children’s stakeholders to come together to ensure the rights of children are championed.
Ouko said that the children’s department will continue to work with the courts to ensure justice is served to children.
By Beryl Akinyi