Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on Kenyans to use their title deeds in place of cash bail in court cases.
During a conference in Kilifi County on Thursday, December 1, the DP opined that a lot of money was lying idle in the Judiciary, which charges cash bail for misdemeanours and other crimes.
He explained that the money needed to be released to the economy to spur development.
Gachagua added that the economy was yet to be uplifted and that the move could help address the country's economic challenges.
"When people have found themselves in court in criminal matters, and they place cash bail because of the urgency of the matter, there exists an opportunity for you to go back to court and substitute that cash bail.
"They can be substituted with a title deed or log book so that we can free that money to the economy," he stated
Consequently, he urged judges and other judicial officers to facilitate programs to ensure Kenyans can use other securities other than money to seek freedom.
"We ask our judges and magistrates to exercise fairness and see how they can facilitate the substitution of cash bail to other forms of security," Rigathi asserted.
He also urged the judges to expedite succession cases involving the government, noting that the money would be used by the new administration to jumpstart the economy.
Nonetheless, he maintained that the Kenyan Kwanza administration would respect the independence of the Judiciary in its undertakings.
The government, he added, will also add Ksh2 billion to the Judiciary budget to enable it to fast-track cases and other projects.
Gachagua was accompanied by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu for the conference.
