Rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence in Vihiga County have triggered a fresh push by justice sector agencies to strengthen coordination, improve victim support systems and ensure cases are handled faster.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has asked courts, police, prosecutors and other justice stakeholders in the county to work together in responding to the challenge, noting that Vihiga continues to record some of the highest numbers of SGBV cases in the country.
During a meeting with Vihiga Law Courts staff and the Court Users Committee (CUC) on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Koome directed the Principal Judge to spearhead the creation of an SGBV working group within the CUC to coordinate interventions and monitor emerging issues affecting the handling of such cases.
The Judiciary said the move would bring together key actors to improve case management, increase public awareness and develop joint solutions to challenges facing survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
“CJ Calls for Urgent Action to Address Rising SGBV Cases in Vihiga. Chief Justice Martha Koome has called on justice sector stakeholders in Vihiga County to work together to address the rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), noting that the county records some of the highest numbers of such cases in the country,” the Judiciary stated.
Koome also called for the upgrading of facilities meant to protect vulnerable children, including renovation of the child protection unit at the local police station, improvement of the county rescue centre and establishment of a holding facility for children in conflict with the law.
She encouraged justice actors to expand public awareness campaigns on SGBV, plea bargaining and Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), saying the approaches would help communities understand available justice options while reducing unnecessary disputes.
The Chief Justice further highlighted progress made through the Judiciary’s digital case management system, saying it had improved the processing of succession matters and helped widows facing inheritance disputes access justice more easily.
She cautioned against corruption within the justice sector and urged Court Users Committees to strengthen local integrity structures to promote accountability and maintain public confidence in courts.
The meeting was attended by senior Judiciary officials, including Chief Registrar Winfridah Mokaya, Judicial Service Commission Vice Chairperson Isaac Ruto, Court of Appeal President Daniel Musinga, High Court Principal Judge Eric Ogola, Court of Appeal Judge Joel Ngugi and other officials.
Court staff used the engagement to raise administrative challenges affecting service delivery, with Koome assuring them that the concerns would be addressed.
Other justice sector players also presented issues affecting the delivery of services in the county. Vihiga Prison officials called for the introduction of a functional virtual court, training of prison officers as paralegals and a review of bail and bond conditions to help address congestion in correctional facilities.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said it would continue supporting people-centred prosecutions, working closely with other agencies and increasing the use of diversion programmes to improve access to timely justice.
The National Police Service asked for more virtual court sessions, saying the expansion would reduce expenses linked to transporting witnesses. Mediators, on the other hand, pushed for faster approval of the Mediation Bill and wider use of alternative dispute resolution.
Civil society groups called for increased attention to SGBV cases and succession disputes affecting widows, while county security officials attributed rising defilement and incest cases partly to illicit alcohol and said enforcement efforts were ongoing.
Justice Joel Ngugi announced plans to develop an Alternative Justice System framework in Vihiga to strengthen community-based solutions to disputes.
Meanwhile, Justice Aggrey Muchelule said 305 cases had already been sent for court-annexed mediation, helping shorten the period needed to resolve disputes as the Judiciary continues expanding mediation services.