Members of the public on Friday got the privilege to freely interact with magistrates, prosecutors and court officials during the Mavoko Law Courts Open Day in Mlolongo, Machakos County.
The citizens comprising women, men, youth, children, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly braved the chilly weather to acquire knowledge on court processes and procedures.
The event was held at Mlolongo chief Peter Ndunda’s office compound in Mlolongo division.
They were sensitized on court and other justice related services.
The exercise also created awareness on automation of court services and the need by court users to embrace technology.
A majority of attendees were Athi River Subcounty residents from Athi River, Mlolongo, Syokimau, Katani, Kyumbi and Kinanie areas.
The citizens attended the event in numbers despite the ravaging floods that have so far affected over 2, 000 people within the subcounty.
Head of Mavoko Law Courts Chief Magistrate Barbara Ojoo presided over the event also attended by her colleagues Silas Kandie and Eunice Kimaiyo.
Ojoo said the court organised the event in partnership with its multiple partners.
Magistrate Shilla Mwaniki from the Office of the Registrar Magistrate’s Court represented her boss Caroline Kabochi in the event.
Also in attendance were Athi River Assistant County Commissioner Micah Ondoro and Mlolongo OCS Festus Okoth.
The day was organised under the theme of enhancing access to justice through public awareness and sensitisation.
“Today, we decided to come to the people so that we sensitise you on matters law and roles of courts. This is because many times, the public does not understand court processes,” Ojoo said.
“This open day is therefore meant for a one on one meeting with you to sensitise you on how court works. We are here as a court and brought together those we work with,” Ojoo told the attendees.
Ojoo mentioned the Kenya Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, Directorate of Public Prosecution, Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC), Law Society of Kenya, National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), probation department, Department of Children Services, as some of the court users they work with as a court.
All the mentioned institutions had their representatives who addressed the public and sensitized them on their roles in judicial justice system.
They also showcased their services by setting desks for public inquiries as others like the Kenya Prisons Service displayed their products and marketed them to the public.
The items included leather shoes and furniture made by inmates from the Athi River GK Prisons in Kitengela.
“Sometime back, people used to fear courts. But, nowadays, we want to remove the boundary that might be there so that people know what brings them to court and court processes,” Ojoo said.
Ojoo said the Judiciary had made lots of progress including online court proceedings as part of automated court services.
“There are lots of developments that have taken place in court and we want to show you how such systems work and how court operates. We want you to interact with us. We want our clients to understand that in courts we don’t work as an island, we have partners,” Ojoo said.
Mwaniki urged Kenyans to pray for the presidency and his administration, other arms of government, as well as all leaders in various positions across the country.
“It’s your responsibility to pray for the government. These are people who execute difficult duties,” Mwaniki said.
Ondoro on his part thanked the Mavoko Law Courts led by Ojoo for what he termed executing exemplary job.
He encouraged the public to speak out and engage with relevant authorities to make Athi River subcounty as secure as possible by volunteering information for action.
Ondoro, however, told government officers in various departments and arms of government to take their work seriously and stop being lazy for the public to satisfactory get services they deserve.
The jubilant attendees thanked the court for reaching out to the public with such an initiative.
“I thank the Mavoko Law Courts for reaching out to us (public) with information through this open court initiative. We are now informed on court processes and procedures among other issues pertaining court matters,” Jane Mwende told the Star.
“I’m much thankful for the court, I’m empowered to empower others who didn’t attend the public sensitization forum,” James Mwaniki said.
Courts are responsible for assuring that suspected criminals receive fair trials and for determining the guilt or innocence of the accused.
The correctional subsystem’s goal is to rehabilitate offenders or alter their behaviors so as to be socially acceptable and law abiding.