For instance, this is the case with the highest court in Kenya. You can now access the Supreme Court without necessarily hiking to Nairobi thanks to its online registry and a WhatsApp chatbot.
Public notice was issued on Monday by the Supreme Court, in which it was announced that the WhatsApp chatbot would enable lawyers and the public to “access information quickly through the chat line with the number 0700 340 972.”
It offers practices directions and rules of the courts, information on different services offered in the courts, and Supreme Court decisions, among other services. This, the court explained, is in line with their strategy of using technology to harness better services and make the lives of persons easier.
At the same time, the court has introduced an online system of registry. There are many things that people used to have to visit physically at the registry to accomplish.
According to the Judiciary, the Virtual Registry will use Microsoft Teams as a platform and will be available to assist users online. The service will be available on working days from 8:30 am to 10:30 am and from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm.
In case you encounter any technical problems, you will still be able to communicate with the registry using the dedicated mobile line, Judiciary Exchange, and ICT lines. For the purpose of conveying formal communication, the court encourages using the provided email addresses.
While the process is taking place in the digital age, physical services are still offered. The main registry is still open in Nairobi at the Supreme Court Building in Room 8. The sub-registries are in Kisumu Law Courts and the Court of Appeal Building in Mombasa.
According to the Judiciary, the plan is all part of a bigger plan to improve court services across the country. Leaving some of the services online is aimed at reducing costs while eliminating crowding in court venues.
Such a move is done alongside the following digital strides: virtual courts that enable the conduct of hearings and court proceedings through video conferencing, a move that seeks to open access to such a service for more Kenyans.
