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{
    "id": 588746,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/588746/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 197,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) T.G. Ali",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 460,
        "legal_name": "Tiyah Galgalo Ali",
        "slug": "tiyah-galgalo-ali"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I stand to support this High Court Organization and Administration Bill, 2015. This is a very nice Bill. When I looked at Clause 12, I was very happy because I looked at having a court in each of the counties or constituencies. I come from Isiolo County where we have three sub-counties that are about a distance of 300 kilometres from the county headquarters. They only have one court. Garbatulla is about 300 kilometres from the headquarters and Merti is about 270 kilometres. Most of the time, accessing justice is hard for the rural communities, especially the pastoralist communities, who are not able to travel 300 kilometres to go and report cases of rape, early marriage or defilement. If we have these courts in these respective areas, especially in the sub-counties and the rural pastoralist areas which are hard to reach, that will be the best thing that can ever happen. Many times, many of these communities who come from these areas feel that they are not part of this country. They think that there is no law and order that can reach them because of the bad state of the roads and the distance to courts. If these courts are provided, these communities will be very happy, in that they will feel that they belong to this country. For the first time, the Government will have recognised that there are communities that need to be given an opportunity to access justice. Having these courts will also promote a feeling of ownership. When our people are taken to court, they think that, that is the end of the world because they believe that it is a foreign institution that is not very kind to them. If we have these courts near them, they will feel that they are part and parcel of the country. Their children will also be employed and they will feel part and parcel of this country. Having these courts will also help us enforce law and order, and have peace in these parts of this country. So, I support the Bill. I also looked at the reorganisation or the judicial transformation programme that is currently going on. We know there is computerisation in many courts. The transformation and computerisation in most registries in this country will help reduce corruption. We have heard of cases where many files disappear in court. You cannot even get information. So, we need to extend the computerisation programme to all areas of this country, so that people can access justice. I remember some two years ago, the issue of mobile courts was adopted. I remember my county was one of the beneficiaries. As much as we continue to build more courts, it is important that we also operationalise mobile courts, especially in hard to reach areas. That requires resources. If the Judiciary is given enough money, some of the areas like the hard to reach areas will benefit because mobile courts will be operational. Most times, these mobile courts come to our areas once in a month or sometimes once in two months’ time. This should also be enhanced. In areas that are hard to reach, let us have these mobile courts work properly. Alternative dispute resolution mechanism is very important. Many traditional communities, especially in the rural communities, have a value system which is very strong. This should also be recognised and put as one of the alternative mechanism to ensure that we solve disputes in this country. If alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are properly put in our law The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}