- Litigants and stakeholders in the justice sector are were urged to embrace the ‘no adjournment’ policy.
- Superior courts will continue to promote the uptake and use of alternative forms of dispute resolution.
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The Court of Appeal will audit, and review stay orders issued on cases to fast-track hearing of cases, the Judiciary has resolved.
A communique of the Judiciary’s Heads of Courts’ consultative meeting issued on February 21, 2024, in Naivasha, said the audit will be conducted with the view to fast-track the determination of pending appeals/applications.
The meeting resolved that superior courts will enhance the docket management system to streamline case management.
To ensure efficiency and to tackle the problem of delays in the conclusion of cases, the superior courts agreed to enforce the ‘no adjournment’ policy.
“Litigants and stakeholders in the justice sector are urged to embrace the ‘no adjournment’ policy as adjournments will be granted only in the most exceptional circumstances,” the communique read in part.
The communique was presented by Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya Martha Koome
Koome called on stakeholders in the justice sector to support and work with the Judiciary in enhancing efforts geared at expeditious resolution of cases.
“The superior courts will continue to promote the uptake and use of alternative forms of dispute resolution,” she said.
The High Court on the other hand will undertake a Rapid Results Initiative to prepare Records of Appeal to enable fast tracking of criminal appeals at the Court of Appeal.
“The Office of the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary will streamline the process of transfer of staff to ensure that each court station is optimally staffed to support judicial processes including with an adequate number of interpreters,” the communique read.
The gathering welcomed the institutionalisation of the Heads of Court Consultative Meeting as an annual event in the Judiciary’s calendar.
Heads of Superior Courts of Kenya represent the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Employment and Labour Relations Court, and the Environment and Land Court.