The judiciary is working on improving service delivery at the Makadara Law Courts by deploying ICT services in efforts to decongest courts.
Chief Justice Martha Koome said the Judiciary is committed to decongesting courts in Nairobi especially Makadara by hastening court processes like paying court fines and bonds.
Speaking on Tuesday when she visited Makadara Law Courts to gauge the security improvements and efficiency of service to the people, the CJ said they are working with their ICT experts to improve the systems to facilitate faster processing of fines and bonds.
She said plans were underway to have an ICT office at Makadara Law Court which would address any system challenges promptly and ensure seamless verification payments.
The CJ said they were looking at modalities of finding other courts in the region where some cases from Makadara Law Courts could be taken in efforts to decongest the court.
Koome said they were looking at ways of decriminalising some traffic charges thereby allowing the offenders to be fined and released to decongest cells and prisons.
“As we conclude preparations to issue the State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice Report, we are cognizant of the milestones realised in the FY 2023/24 to bring justice closer to the people,” Koome said.
“Magistrates Courts have recorded a case clearance rate of 98 per cent with continued improvement.”
She said they were working round the clock to address the space and infrastructure challenges at Makadara to enhance the quality and efficiency of service delivery.
“We will continue to work with other justice actors through the court users’ committees to address reported inefficiencies in handling criminal cases, particularly timely plea taking and bail and bond procedures,” the CJ said.
In August, the Judiciary took the lead in spearheading critical reforms in the criminal justice system to stem overcrowding in prisons as part of efforts to foster proper rehabilitation of offenders.
Chief Justice Martha Koome said the Judiciary will promote the use of Community Service Orders (CSOs) by reviewing sentences and where appropriate, releasing convicts to perform community service instead of serving time in custody.
She said the reforms include immediate and sustained strategic efforts to transform the correctional system into one that reflects the highest standards of justice and human dignity