Koome: Expedite All Pending Cases

By John Kariuki

Chief Justice Martha Koome has given a directive that all adoption cases pending in various courts to be expeditiously solved with immediate effect.

Koome made the remarks while on a visit to Mogra Children’s Home in Nairobi. She decried the lackluster nature some of these cases has been handled with, making it difficult for genuine well-wishers to adopt children.

“It is very bad that despite a person meeting the all the requirements, they still cannot adopt because they don’t have the adoption certificate. I have ordered that all these cases be handled immediately “, she said.

Koome said that lack of adoption certificate has also made it difficult for the adopted children to access some of the benefits like medical insurance.

“If we delay, we are doing injustice to these innocent ones. How will they even have their school fees paid. It is totally unfair and my courts will be on the frontline handling these cases “, she said.

Koome pledged to liaise with relevant agencies in the National Administrative Justice System NCAJ to ensure children’s issues are addressed.

“The reality on ground is that a lot is yet to be done. People are busy in offices while children’s homes are suffering”, she said.

The Chief Justice also urged children’s home’s to familiarize with the newly enacted children’s act 2022.

The amended Children Act 2022 addresses emerging issues affecting children in Kenya and gaps identified during the implementation of the previous law.

Some of the highlights in the Children Act that have been welcomed include raising the criminal responsibility age from the previous 8 years to 12 years.

Children accused of committing minor offences, according to the new Act will now be diverted to community-based systems such as their families.

On her part, Director Mogra Homes Apostle Hannah Wairimu urged government to support children’s homes with capitation so that they can be able to take of the children.

“We do a lot of work but no one is ever ready to support us. Children department gets billions of money but no one has ever supported it,” she said.

Present during the visit were other judges of the Supreme Court Justice Philomena Mwilu, Justice Smokin Wanjala, Justice Ibrahim Mohamed, Justice Isaac Lenaola, Justice William Ouko.