[Photo/LSK]
The backlog of cases in the Lands and Environment Court amid increased land ownership disputes in the country has been caused by the shortage of judges.Amos Makokha, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Bungoma chapter chairman, expressed concern at the piling cases while appealing for more judges.On Tuesdays he said, “Clients seeking services in such courts are having a hard time. Some of the cases date back to 15 years”.The country has only 27 judges handling land and environment cases, adding that the Judiciary should hire more judges so that they are concluded in good time according to Mr Makokha.“Due to lack of enough land judges, you can’t get a date this year at the Bungoma land and environment court. The only available date is in March 2018,” also emphasizing that the shortage has delayed justice for aggrieved parties.Justice Samson Okong’o, a presiding judge of the Environment and Land Court, who in July this year said that half of Kenya is not served by the crucial court supporting the sentiments of Mr Makokha.Jutice Okong'o said,“The case disposal rate is low, the workload cannot be matched with personnel, clients are frustrated”.The Court of Appeal has also suffered the same shortage of judges with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) kicking off the search for eight new judges in August.