New Maara law courts to ease access to justice in Tharaka-Nithi

Chief Justice Koome inaugurates constituency-funded facility as Kenya pushes to expand judicial infrastructure to 200 courts nationwide

By Blaise Gitonga

Chief Justice Martha Koome yesterday presided over the inauguration of the newly constructed Maara Law Courts in Tharaka-Nithi County, marking a significant step in the Judiciary’s drive to bring justice closer to Kenyans living far from established court centres.

The ceremony, held on Thursday at Maara Constituency, was attended by senior judicial officers, county leaders and members of the public who had long waited for a court station in the area. The new facility is among 10 courts lined up for inauguration across the country as part of a broader push to expand judicial infrastructure at the grassroots level.

Tharaka-Nithi County covers more than 2,609 square kilometres and had previously been served by only two court stations, in Marimanti and Chuka towns. For many residents of Maara and its surroundings, accessing justice meant long, costly journeys to either of those towns — an obstacle that, in practice, denied many the very rights the Constitution guarantees.

The new facility was constructed through the Maara Constituency National Government Constituencies Development Fund and comprises two courtrooms, each supported by a chamber, as well as separate holding cells. It is scheduled to begin operations on 4 January 2027. With its opening, the number of magistrates’ courts in Kenya rises to 151. Koome has set a target of 200 courts before the end of her tenure.

Speaking at the inauguration, Koome said the facility represented more than bricks and mortar. It was, she argued, a physical expression of the constitutional promise that every Kenyan, regardless of where they live, is entitled to the protection of the law.

“Each new court represents a step towards ensuring justice is accessible to all Kenyans, irrespective of their geographical location,” she said. “Justice must be people-centred, accessible and affordable.”

Koome pointed to the Maara courts as a model for what could be achieved when government agencies worked together with a shared purpose. The facility is also notable for being the first prototype court developed by the Judiciary, meaning it will serve as a benchmark design for future court stations across the country.

“Maara Constituency is an excellent testament to what collaboration can achieve. Development is not limited to roads, schools and other social infrastructure. A court is as important as all other amenities. Investment in judicial infrastructure is investment in the rule of law and social empowerment,” she said.

The Chief Justice also used the occasion to advance the case for Alternative Justice Systems, known as AJS — a framework that seeks to incorporate community-based and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms into the formal justice system. She announced that the Judiciary was ready to formalise the involvement of Njuri Ncheke, the traditional council of elders in the Meru community, within the court structure.

“AJS has not been launched in the larger Meru community, but I am pleased to learn that we are ready to reform and have a section of Njuri Ncheke that is compliant with the Constitution and ready for AJS,” Koome said. “We propose that a panel of Njuri Ncheke be constitutionally attached to the court and have AJS incorporated into our courts to increase pathways to justice.”

Chief Justice Martha Koome presided over the inauguration of the newly constructed Maara Law Courts on Thursday, November 5, 2026

She further announced that the Judiciary had now established High Court stations in all 47 counties and that there were plans to extend the Court of Appeal’s presence to all constituencies in the country — an ambitious expansion that would, if realised, fundamentally reshape access to appellate justice for millions of Kenyans.

Tharaka-Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, who addressed the gathering, threw his weight behind the AJS initiative, calling on Njuri Ncheke to find ways of incorporating women and other vulnerable groups into decision-making and dispute resolution processes. Njuki said genuine access to justice could only be achieved if traditionally marginalised voices were brought into the conversation.

The governor also backed the Chief Justice in the government’s campaign against organised crime and hooliganism, calling not only for the arrest of those directly involved in criminal acts but also for action against individuals funding such activities from the shadows.

Njuki praised Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki for championing the court project, describing it as a legacy investment that would benefit residents for generations.

“The opening of the court today is not only bringing services closer to the people but also saving residents a lot of money they spend while seeking judicial services,” Njuki said. “When Kareke was taking over the constituency, such services were not available. He has worked and delivered for the people of Maara.”

He also called on the Judiciary to consider establishing a court station at the county headquarters in Kathwana, arguing that a county seat without its own court station remained an unfinished piece of judicial infrastructure.

Mbiuki confirmed that the new courts had been officially handed over to the Judiciary for staffing and management. He noted that 279 civil cases and 81 criminal cases had already been transferred from Chuka Law Courts to Maara in preparation for the station’s opening.

Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Boyani Mokaya described the court as a recognition that justice was a foundational ingredient for the socio-economic growth of any society. She urged the Maara NG-CDF Board to join the Court Users Committee once the station became operational, reinforcing the principle that sustained community involvement was essential to the court’s long-term success.

Lucy Kaaria, chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya’s Tharaka-Nithi chapter, welcomed the development as a demonstration of real commitment to judicial transformation. She urged the Chief Justice to consider deploying two additional judicial officers to Chuka Law Courts to help address a growing backlog of cases there.

Tharaka-Nithi County Commissioner David Gitonga called on residents to resolve land succession disputes and other disagreements early, noting that the government was working to train professional mediators to support community-level dispute resolution. More than 50 Court Users Committee members have already been trained in AJS modules.

Others present at the event included Deputy Governor Wilson Nyaga Muisrael, County Assembly Speaker John Mbabu, Head of Station at Chuka Law Courts Joanne Wambilyanga, Presiding Judge of the Chuka High Court Lady Justice Roselyne Korir and Principal Judge of the Chuka Environment and Land Court Justice Oscar Angote.

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