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{
    "id": 972135,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/972135/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 551,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Gatundu North, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Wanjiku Kibeh",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13339,
        "legal_name": "Annie Wanjiku Kibeh",
        "slug": "annie-wanjiku-kibeh"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I wish to add my voice in supporting the Report of the Committee on the State of the Judiciary. Allow me to confess that before my election, I had never had a court case. Interestingly, I got a petition and I was able to understand very clearly the saying that justice delayed is justice denied. I commend the Committee because they have tried to highlight and focus on the main areas and challenges that the Judiciary is facing. I appreciate the fact that they have a very deliberate and strategic plan on sustainable judicial transformation to ensure that right from the bottom going up, there is a very deliberate strategy to make sure that we reduce the backlog in our courts. In my work, I have encountered very many cases of our people who have been to court for very many years. Others have faced frustrations and they have even died. When we are talking about a backlog of over 170,000 cases that are before our courts, then this is a matter that should worry all of us, especially us as the leaders. I agree with the Committee that there is need for the Judiciary, through the Ministry, to bring to this House legislation that would somehow prescribe how much time cases should take in a court of law. I have also noted that there are very good strategies to make sure that the Judiciary establishes court stations at various levels. I am happy that Gatundu North is just about to be one of the beneficiaries of this strategy. However, this cannot be achieved if we do not facilitate the Judiciary in the right way. I agree that we are facing austerity measures in this country but at the same time, I think the Judiciary has a very huge responsibility. Whenever we are faced with situations that require litigation and solutions or determination, we all run to these courts. In the same breath, we expect them to bear the very heavy responsibility of serving justice to this country. It is, therefore, hypocritical that, again, we go behind and feel that we should not facilitate them in the right way. I wish to support that we facilitate them to be able to do their work. We need to also look at some of these challenges that the Committee has highlighted. I have noted that the Report also highlights the Judiciary as facing inadequate judges and magistrates. This is one of the areas they critically need to look at so that we can fast track court cases. With those few remarks, I support the Report."
}