Court Orders JSC to Respond Within Two Days Over Disability Access Petition
The case was filed by lobby group Sheria Mtaani, which is asking the court to direct the commission to ensure that all court buildings are accessible to marginalized groups, particularly persons with disabilities who face challenges when seeking justice
By : Mweru Mbugua
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has been given two days to file its response to a petition seeking to compel the installation of ramps in courts nationwide to enhance access for persons living with disabilities
The case was filed by lobby group Sheria Mtaani, which is asking the court to direct the commission to ensure that all court buildings are accessible to marginalized groups, particularly persons with disabilities who face challenges when seeking justice
During the hearing, lawyer Danstan Omari, alongside Shadrack Wambui and Stanley Kinyanjui, informed the court that all parties had been duly served in line with earlier directions
“We served all parties as per the directions of the court,” Omari submitted
However, counsel Owiti, representing the respondents and an interested party, requested additional time to file responses. He argued that the three days initially granted were insufficient due to internal challenges
Omari opposed the request for a 14-day extension, describing the matter as urgent and accusing the JSC of failing to comply with court directives
“This is a matter that concerns millions of Kenyans who are marginalized and cannot access courts easily. The court gave clear directions that responses be filed within three days, but the JSC has ignored those directions,” he told the court
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Omari further urged the court to issue interim orders compelling the immediate installation of ramps to guarantee access to justice for persons living with disabilities
In response, lawyers for the JSC argued that the commission had been improperly sued and indicated they would file a preliminary objection challenging the suit. They also maintained that some of the issues raised fall outside the commission’s mandate
The court directed the respondents and interested parties to submit their responses within two days and scheduled the matter for mention to confirm compliance and provide further directions
