Chief Justice Martha Koome officially launched the Tribunal Shared Services offices in Kisumu to pursue inclusive and equitable justice through expeditious service delivery yesterday.
The first-of-its-kind outside Nairobi, it’s one of the judicial services initiatives aimed at providing respected dispute resolution mechanisms to all people across the country.
To offer efficient, cost-effective and uniform service provision, the state-of-the-art complex in the lakeside city is curated with a Courtroom, Digital Hub, Registry, Chamber and Records Room.
Members of the public will also be able to access the internet, learn digital literacy, file cases online, track matters and attend cases virtually.
“The launch herein Kisumu is the unfolding of people-centred justice that has guided the transformation of the Judiciary in the past,” said CJ Koome at the venue located in Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency (LVSWDA), Nyalenda-Kisumu.
She emphasised that through their blueprint, Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ), vulnerable people can get justice simply and fairly.
First launched in August 2024 at the Kenya-Re Towers, the shared services comprises 38 Tribunals performing various roles under the Office of the Registrar.
The Mediation Services has so far resolved 50 cases since its inception in December 2024.
Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o led the area leaders in calling for the establishment of additional Judicial Courts in Nyakach and Muhoroni Sub-Counties.
This, they reiterated, will go a long way in reducing the distance covered by the litigants and the speedy dispensation of justice.
“More milestones will follow for a Just, People-centred justice system in Kisumu.”
The Law Society of Kenya-Western Chapter welcomed the move to set up the tribunal in Kisumu.
They further encouraged the Koome-led Judiciary to decentralise tribunals’ services in every 47 counties.
Tribunal Users Committee Member, Mr Caleb Ngere decried lack of awareness of tribunals’ roles among the general public.
“We also request the monthly sittings, unlike the three-day ones, after every three months, ” Ngere said, adding that the Business Premises Rent Tribunal (BPRT) and Rent Restriction Tribunals should firmly address Non-Refund Security Deposits.
Some of the notable tribunals include: Business Premises Rent Tribunal (BPRT), Copyright, Sports Disputes, Tax Disputes, Communications and Multimedia Appeals.
Others are Political Parties Disputes, National Environment, Transport Licensing Board, National Examination Appeals, Land Acquisition and Cooperative Tribunals, among others.
CJ Koome later opened the Kisumu City Court to enhance and resolve revenue allocation complaints
In a similar move, CJ Koome opened the 134th Court in Kombewa-Seme Sub-County on Tuesday, May 13th, to promote timely, judicious processes.
In referring to Kisumu as the “City of Justice,” CJ Koome informed that it now has the entire justice system from the Registry for the Supreme Court to the lower courts.
She was also accompanied by the Kisumu Deputy Governor, Dr Mathews Owili, Dr Joshua Oron (Kisumu Central), Shakeel Shabbir (Kisumu Central), and LVSWDA Chairman Odoyo Owidi.
Others were City Manager Abala Wanga, Nerea Okombo (Dep County Assembly Speaker),Seth Ochieng (Milimani Ward MCA),and the legal stakeholders.
