Nyamira residents should desist from giving bribes to Magistrates and other Court officials, Nyamira Resident Judge, Justice Laban Ondieki has said.
Justice Ondieki said anyone found bribing court officials will be prosecuted to deter those with similar motives, in a bid to eradicate corruption in the courts.
Addressing wananchi attending Nyamira courts early Monday morning in one of the court rooms, the Judge said giving out bribes was a serious offense that called for deterrent measures.
He said any court official found soliciting for bribes should be reported to the Senior Resident Magistrate, who accompanied him during the brief encounter with court attendants.
“We don’t want to see you give bribes or try to get any shortcuts during a hearing for that will kill justice and that risks you to face a jail term,” he added.
This comes amid ongoing crisis at the Supreme court where Judge Philip Tunoi is being scrutinised for allegedly receiving a Sh200 million bribe to favour Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero in a petition that was filed by current Kabete Member of Parliament Ferdinand Waititu.
He also called on Kenyans to use alternative ways of problem resolution like the use of village elders and chiefs, instead of taking every trivial family issue to court.
This, he said, will help decongest the courts currently having a huge backlog.