Chief Justice Martha Koome stated in a press release that the Judiciary would work hard to clear a backlog of cases.
The CJ went on to say that cases involving children would be prioritized in response to a request from the National Council on Administrative Justice.
Every year, NCAJ asked CJ Koome to set aside a week called Children’s Service Week to address the plight of minors.
While issuing the directive, Koome stated that children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected at all costs.
Read also: New TSC Qualifications for Primary Teachers to teach in junior secondary
“You can hold me personally responsible for anything that happens to children in the judicial system because I have directed courts to prioritize children’s cases,” she said.
During this year’s Children’s Service Week, the CJ urged the judiciary to increase their participation.
Children, according to Koome, should be at home with their families and loved ones rather than in prisons.
“We solved 1,800 children’s cases last year during service week and helped them to be where they are supposed to be, at home, not in the system,” the Chief Justice said.
Read also: Full list of kisii county 2022 elected leaders governor, senator, woman Rep, MPs and MCAs
According to the CJ, protecting children requires more than simply clearing minors’ cases.
He agreed with the National Council on Administrative Justice (NCAJ) on the importance of celebrating children on a yearly basis.
“To build on these gains, I have directed all courts throughout the country to hold the Annual November Service Month on Children Matters, with the goal of not only clearing backlogs of children cases but also promoting child rights within communities,” the CJ said.
Over 200 children are currently incarcerated with their mothers who are serving prison sentences, according to estimates.
READ ALSO: Updated list of loan apps that do not check CRB status in Kenya
Furthermore, over 17,000 minors are detained, over 10,000 youth are in secure facilities, and 4500 are in adult prisons.
