Ombudsman Opens Eldoret Regional Office to Enhance Access to Administrative Justice in North Rift
He confirmed that North Rift County governments would assist the Ombudsman work through their transparency efforts, which will help citizens access information in a timely manner.
CAJ Chairperson Charles Dulo .Photo/Achieng Kemuma
By Brenda Muriithi
The Office of the Ombudsman has established a new regional office in Eldoret to improve administrative justice access for North Rift residents according to the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ). The establishment of the office represents a major achievement according to CAJ Chairperson Charles Dulo during his speech at the inauguration event because the commission has been present in Eldoret since its first establishment ten years ago. The establishment of this new office reflects our growth, commitment, and resolve to serve citizens more effectively according to Dulo because we started our operations here a decade ago in a very small space.
The office will serve Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Turkana, and nearby counties, which will help complainants avoid traveling to Nairobi for their complaints.
The commission has received more than 3,200 complaints from the region according to Dulo. The majority of complaints involve administrative matters, public information access issues, delays with national identity card and passport processing, and land and succession disputes.
Accessing information constitutes a constitutional right, which he explained. Citizens must first submit their information requests to public institutions, and if the institution fails to respond within 21 days, the commission will issue binding directives to handle the matter.
The public awareness campaign about its mandate will be enhanced by CAJ through increased media outreach and public forum events, which will also encourage Eldoret office visitors to use the services.
The office will serve Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Turkana, and nearby counties Photo/Achieng Kemuma.
People no longer need to send their problems to Nairobi because they can enter this office to get direct assistance according to Dulo
The commission conducts its first Africa-wide information access survey to assess current transparency levels between national and county governments. The survey results will enable us to evaluate public institution transparency, which will improve access to information and help reduce corruption according to Dulo. The CAJ Board handles judicial complaints through case referrals to the Judicial Service Commission, which manages the processes while updating Complainants about their case progress according to Dulo. Evans Kapkea Deputy Governor of Uasin Gishu showed his support for the new office opening because land and succession disputes make up the majority of North Rift court cases.
The office provides alternative dispute resolution methods according to Kapkea, which will decrease court demand because not every disagreement requires court resolution. He confirmed that North Rift County governments would assist the Ombudsman work through their transparency efforts, which will help citizens access information in a timely manner.
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