By Ahmed Salat Aaran Tv Ke
Wajir County has marked a historic milestone with the inauguration and operationalisation of its first-ever High Court, a development expected to significantly improve access to justice in the region and end decades of reliance on courts outside the county.
The newly established court, set up by the Judiciary, will also host an Environment and Land Court, bringing critical judicial services closer to residents of Wajir and the wider North Eastern region. For years, litigants have been compelled to travel to Garissa to pursue High Court matters, often incurring heavy transport and accommodation costs.
Presiding over the ceremony, Justice John Onyiego, the resident judge of the Garissa High Court, described the development as a transformative moment for the county.
“This is a new beginning and a new birth for Wajir,” he said. “For a long time, Wajir was the only county without a High Court. Today, we take a significant step forward in strengthening the Judiciary and ensuring justice is brought closer to the people.”
Justice Onyiego urged residents to take full advantage of the court, particularly for appeals, noting that the move would reduce the financial and logistical burden previously associated with seeking justice in Garissa.
He further revealed that, through the efforts of Chief Justice Martha Koome, the Judiciary has ongoing plans to expand court infrastructure across the region, including in Eldas, Habaswein and Wajir West. However, he cited limited funding as a key challenge.
“We appeal to the government to allocate more resources to support infrastructure development for the Wajir High Court to ensure efficient service delivery,” he added.
Judiciary officials present at the inauguration described the establishment of the court as a major stride towards strengthening the rule of law in historically marginalised areas.
“This court represents more than just a building; it symbolises our commitment to ensuring that justice is not a privilege for a few but a right accessible to all,” Eric Malisa Wajir Law Magistrates stated. “For many years, residents of Wajir have had to travel outside the county for High Court services. That gap has now been closed.”
Local advocate Hashim Elmoge termed the development a “new dispensation of justice” for the people of Wajir, expressing optimism that the court would help reduce case backlogs and expedite the determination of complex matters, including constitutional petitions, criminal appeals, land disputes and future election petitions.
“Access to justice has been a serious challenge in this region. With the High Court now operational, wananchi will no longer have to endure the strain of travelling hundreds of kilometres for hearings,” he said.
Representatives from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) highlighted longstanding land disputes as one of the region’s pressing concerns. Biqeysa Noor noted that some families have lost property after prolonged legal battles, citing a case filed in 2013 that was only resolved this year.
The Environment and Land Court is expected to address the growing number of disputes linked to urban expansion and community land issues, enhancing transparency and fairness in their resolution.
Residents who attended the ceremony described the inauguration as a proud and long-awaited moment.
“For years, we felt left behind in terms of key institutions. Today, we feel recognised and included in the national justice system,” said Husein Shurie, a local resident.
The establishment of the High Court aligns with the Judiciary’s broader decentralisation agenda aimed at bringing services closer to the people. As operations begin, stakeholders have expressed hope that the new institution will strengthen public confidence in the justice system and contribute to social stability and development in Wajir County.
Comments
Post a Comment