Chief Justice Martha Koome has sounded a rallying call to judicial officers to uphold integrity and efficiency in the face of growing public dissatisfaction with Kenya’s court system.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the Magistrates and Kadhis Colloquium in Mombasa, themed “Digital Transformation, Technology and the Law,” CJ Koome acknowledged that the Judiciary is “on trial” in the eyes of the public.
“We, as judicial officers and judges, find ourselves on trial—under public examination for how we manage cases and serve court users, and regrettably, for renewed allegations of corruption in some court stations,” she said.
The Chief Justice raised alarm over chronic case backlogs, frequent adjournments, and the over-listing of cases.
“Listing 50 or more cases in a single day is neither practical nor fair to litigants. It leads to frustration and erodes confidence in the judicial system,” she stated.
She urged judicial officers to adopt manageable case scheduling based on daily hearing capacity, saying this would uphold justice and restore dignity for court users.
Koome reaffirmed her administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, calling it a critical step in rebuilding the Judiciary’s credibility.
“I want to state once again, unequivocally: the Judiciary is a corruption-free zone. We are determined to enforce this policy without fear or favour,” she declared.
To bolster accountability, she announced the formation of Court Integrity Users Committees in all court stations. These committees, she said, will help proactively identify unethical conduct, moving away from reactive, complaint-driven models.
The Judiciary is also partnering with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to implement intelligence-led strategies against graft.
Highlighting recent innovations, Koome emphasized the importance of embracing e-filing, virtual courts, and a national transcription system, calling them “tools to enhance transparency and user satisfaction.”
“These innovations are not just technological upgrades—they are fundamental tools for enhancing efficiency and justice delivery,” she noted.
She challenged magistrates and Kadhis to actively adopt digital solutions and cultivate a culture of continuous improvement.
Justice Smokin Wanjala, representing the Kenya Judiciary Academy, described the Judiciary as standing “at the threshold of a paradigm shift” shaped by emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and big data.
“These forces require us to build a Judiciary that is not only adaptive but also anticipatory,” he remarked.
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya added that integrity extends beyond avoiding corruption.
“It is about being honest, impartial, and accountable in all that we do,” she said.
The colloquium brought together judicial officers from across the country to share experiences and best practices on law, ethics, and the modernization of the court system.
