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Kenya opens airport court to handle drugs, wildlife crime

Xinhua, June 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenya's judiciary on Tuesday opened a new court at the country's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) that will handle international drug trafficking and illegal wildlife trade.

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga said the airport court will aid resolution of these cases, mainly involving foreigners.

"The JKIA (court) will hand cases relating to drug trafficking, ivory and other wildlife trophies, humanitarian, traffic offences and other petty crimes within JKIA and Wilson Airport," Mutunga said in a speech read on his behalf by Principal Magistrate Richard Mongo.

"The delay of cases in our court system has often contributed to some people skipping bail. There is also the destruction of evidence such as what happened when a terminal caught fire at JKIA a few years back," the speech said.

The new court will also relieve the Kibera and Makadara law courts, which are currently overwhelmed by more than 300 pending cases originating from the airport.

Mutunga said there were also plans to make it the first 24-hour court in the country and also the first to operate on weekends.

Attorney General Githu Muigai commended the judiciary for its efforts in increasing the number of courts available in the country aimed at improving access to justice. Endit