Chief Justice Martha Koome has proposed that courts in Kenya should operate until 9 pm to clear the backlog of cases.
The CJ proposed the new night shifts to curb the slow process of getting justice in the Kenyan judiciary that is marred by delays.
“We hope to see innovations in courts, including the Commercial Courts and the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Courts adopting “night court” shifts and courts sitting up to 9 pm,” the CJ said.
CJ Koome was speaking during the second annual symposium for tribunals in Mombasa where she opined that the new proposal will improve performance.
“We in the Supreme Court must clear our own backlog of cases. We have to address the gap before we start saying the Judiciary is inefficient,” CJ Koome stated.
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“Prior thereto, the Judiciary was viewed by many as characterised by inefficiencies, delays, and inadequate administrative capacity. This rating has slightly changed as the institution is seen as fairly responsive to the citizenry’s concerns,” she added.
The CJ further opined that the mention of cases ought to be done at the registry instead of being done by judges.
“Why does a judge have to travel just to mention cases. The cases can be mentioned at the registry,” CJ Koome opined.
Last week the CJ made changes in the court o Appeal, according to a statement by the court's President Justice Daniel Musinga.
Justice Musinga will serve as President at the Court of Appeal Nairobi in the new reshuffle while Lady Justice Hannah Okwengu will serve as the Head- Civil Division, Nairobi.
Justice Mohamed Warsame is the COA Representative to Judicial Service Commission, Nairobi and Justice Asike Makhandia will be the Head Criminal Division, Nairobi and Justice Kathurima M’Inoti will serve as Director, Judiciary Training Institute, Nairobi.
Lady Justices Roselyn Nambuye, Wanjiru Karanja, Agnes Murgor, Fatuma Sichale, Jamila Mohammed, Hellen Omondi and Justices Imaana Laibuta, Sankale ole Kantai and Msagha Mbogholi will also be based in Nairobi.
Justice Patrick O. Kiage will serve as Presiding Judge in Kisumu, joined by Justice Francis Tuiyott and Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi.
Justice Gatembu Kairu will be the Presiding Judge in Mombasa and he will be joined by Lady Justices Pauline Nyamweya and Jessie Lesiit in the new reshuffle.
