The President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Eric Theuri has attributed delayed justice for victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to inadequate resources allocated to the Judiciary.
Speaking during the ‘End Femicide March’ in Nairobi on Saturday 27 January, Theuri noted that insufficient resources has led to a shortage of judges and magistrates.
This he said, was causing prolonged delays in resolving Gender-Based Violence cases.
“The Judiciary lacks the necessary resources to establish more courts and hire additional magistrates and judges, which are essential to expedite these cases.
“Currently, we are facing a shortage of approximately 100 judges and 200 magistrates and adjudicators,” said Theuri.
The LSK president made these remarks during the Saturday morning demonstration, where a significant number of women gathered in Nairobi’s Central Business District to voice their concern over the recent increase in violent killings of young women.
Theuri further urged the government to bolster support for the Judiciary, police, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ensure they can effectively carry out their duties.
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“We urge the government to bolster the capabilities of the police and the DCI so that they can better investigate and prosecute increasingly complex crimes, many of which have an online dimension and require significant resources,” he noted.
Government Initiatives to End GBV
In a significant move towards curbing GBV, the government has instituted specialized courts exclusively focused on addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases.
The year 2023 witnessed the inauguration of five dedicated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence courts nationwide, located in Siaya, Kisumu, Kibera, and Makadara.
Eric Theuri echoed LSK’s commitment to combat femicide and their active lobbying efforts with the government.
The January 27 anti-femicide march came following recent nationwide uproar following the deaths of young ladies brutally murdered in the hand of men posing as their lovers.
Who Commits Femicide?
According to the Africa Data Hub, a staggering 75 percent of femicide cases are perpetrated by individuals closely connected to the victims, including intimate partners, relatives, or friends.
In stark contrast, a mere 15 percent of these cases involve strangers.
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The data underscores the alarming prevalence of femicide within familiar relationships, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and awareness campaigns to address this deeply rooted issue.
“Following a thorough examination of legal processes, our findings reveal a staggering average of 1,900 days for a case to be concluded and a suspect to be sentenced once they are arrested and brought to court,” the report disclosed.
This data, spanning from 2016 to 2023, highlights a concerning delay in the justice system, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms to expedite legal proceedings and deliver timely justice.
