CJ Koome announces Judicial reforms to tackle delays and corruption
CJ Martha Koome in her recorded remarks at the ELRC Judges’ Conference, said the Judiciary is under public scrutiny over timeliness, service quality & integrity — calling it a moment for reflection & reform.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has announced a series of measures aimed at enhancing the efficiency and speed of the Judiciary in handling court cases.
Speaking at the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) Judges’ Conference on Monday, April 7, Koome acknowledged the challenges the Judiciary is currently facing in several key areas.
A major focus of the reforms is improving the speed at which cases are resolved.
The Chief Justice emphasized that a shift toward better case management is necessary, as the ongoing delays in case resolutions are significantly undermining public trust in the judicial system.
"We meet at a time when the Judiciary has been placed under intense public scrutiny across the country," the CJ noted.
"As we are all aware, concern has been raised about timelines and integrity among a few within our ranks."
She added, "For this reason, we are intensifying our focus on improving case management and ensuring that court users are not subjected to delays and administrative inefficiencies."
CJ Koome acknowledged that the frequent adjournments were not solely due to technical difficulties, noting that this was one of the reasons the public constantly scrutinized the Judiciary, questioning its integrity and competence.
Furthermore, the CJ, who has previously faced calls for her removal, addressed concerns surrounding integrity and the efforts to combat corruption—issues that have significantly affected the courts' ability to efficiently process cases.
In addition to concerns over operational efficiency, Koome acknowledged ongoing concerns about corruption in certain court stations.
She expressed confidence that these challenges would be tackled through the creation of independent bodies dedicated to fighting graft.
“To uphold the integrity of our Constitution, we are introducing court integrity committees at every court station,” Koome stated.
"These bodies will serve as inclusive forums where judges, judicial staff, lawyers, EACC representatives, and other key stakeholders can raise concerns and work collectively to address unethical practices."
This marks the first initiative in Kenya’s history to form anti-corruption committees that operate independently of the government.