Kenya

ACCESS TO JUSTICE

‘To none shall we sell, to none deny or delay, justice or right’. This was the promise of Magna Carta – or the promise of the besieged King John to his barons.

The law professor peered over his glasses and began to read. The statement in front of him described the decay of Kenya’s criminal justice system in clear and unequivocal terms that left no doubt the individuals responsible in government.

Under the colonial regime, the judiciary was an arm of the state, not entirely independent of it.

As workers and taxpayers of this country, we were shocked and disgusted yesterday that President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga refused to attend the Uhuru Park workers' day celebrations.