Chief Justice Martha Koome has warned parents against leaving the rehabilitation of wayward children to the Judiciary.
While officially launching the Children Service Month at the Supreme Court on Thursday, she called on parents to take up their responsibilities.
“To parents, I wish to reiterate that the court process must not be abused as a place of discipline or reform for our children,” she said.
Instead, she implored parents and guardians of children to use alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to correct children.
“Utilise other avenues like counselling and religious instructions to help instill discipline and values to children,” she said.
Koome said in African cultures, children belong to the community and we can only protect them if we all come together.
She called upon more courts across the country to establish Children Court User Committees to help children in contact with the law and in conflict with the law to access justice.
“Children Court User Committees are instrumental in coordinating the delivery of justice in children matters. They also act as a vehicle to sensitise the community on matters related to child justice,” Koome said.
The chief justice further lauded Kakuma law courts and Machakos law courts for launching their Children Court User Committees.
The committees include officers handling children in the system, to ensure that they give children’s cases maximum focus.
