CJ: I’ll ensure vibrant, efficient Judiciary
Chief Justice Martha Koome yesterday promised to ensure no case will drag in courts for more than three years.
Koome while launching her vision for the Judiciary said all cases in a Trial Court must be dispensed with within three years while those in Appellate courts cleared within one year.
She stated that the Judiciary will also ensure that no litigant travels more than 100 kilometres to access a court.
“We will place particular and determined focus on reducing proximity and physical access to courts and ensure that we hear and determine cases expeditiously,” she said yesterday.
Koome said the vision for the Judiciary is to widen the doors of justice to all Kenyans and all vulnerable groups.
“I see my tenure as Chief Justice as affording me and all who work in the Judiciary the opportunity to champion the cause of realising the dream of many Kenyans for this institution as outlined in the Constitution,” she said.
“To this end, litigants and various vulnerable groups and individuals, for example, children, persons living with dis- abilities, the youth, minorities and marginalised groups, and the elderly whose rights and interests have been habitually disregarded or minimalised need to access the judicial system easily and efficiently to claim their rights and interests,” she added.
Justice Koome said the Judiciary will focus on infrastructure development with particular emphasis on establishing a state-of-the-art Supreme Court headquarters, a modern Judicial Training Academy, enabling Mediation Suites in every Court Station to support alternative dispute resolution and a Tribunals Plaza to coordinate the operations of Tribunals across the country.
“The Judiciary under this leadership will, therefore, be focused on opening and broadening its doors to litigants and rendering justice to all who seek it within our borders,” she said.
Responsive justice
The CJ stated that her dream is to see the Kenyan Judiciary develop into an independent, vibrant, efficient and accessible institution that is responsive to the aspirations of Kenyans and serves as a true guardian of the rule of law and our democracy.
“The goal of widening access to justice will only be attained when we have in place an efficient, cost-effective, accessible, expeditious and fair system of delivery of justice,” she stated.
She noted that the reforms envisioned are informed by the realisation that despite tremendous achievements realised in the past 10 years, the Judiciary continues to face challenges related to access and responsive justice, case backlog, and accountability.
The CJ also promised to en- sure that the public has confidence in the institution by dealing firmly, and swiftly but also fairly with concerns related to integrity and corrup tion that may arise within the institution.
