Chief Justice Martha Koome/ HANDOUTIn a statement on Tuesday, Koome acknowledged the many challenges the country faced, including the tragic loss of young lives, injuries and destruction of properties during anti-government demonstrations.
Despite these hardships, she celebrated the country’s enduring faith in the rule of law and reaffirmed her commitment to upholding the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
“As we conclude the year 2024, I join fellow Kenyans in thanking God for protecting and preserving our country amidst very challenging times where we lost the precious lives of our young people, many were injured and property destroyed,” Koome said.
“As we usher in the year 2025, I pray that we will be more reflective and that respect for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights will remain our true north with the realization that every life matters.”
Koome highlighted the Judiciary’s significant progress in spite of the difficult economic conditions, particularly the budgetary constraints faced in 2024.
She pointed to notable advancements in access to justice and the efficient delivery of judicial services.
A key accomplishment of the year, according to the Chief Justice, was improvement in the Judiciary's Case Clearance Rate (CCR), which reached an impressive 99 percent.
“Our focus on clearing case backlogs has yielded remarkable results,” Koome stated.
“Our Case Clearance Rate (CCR) has improved significantly, underscoring our steadfast commitment to delivering justice expeditiously.”
The CJ also emphasised the expansion of judicial infrastructure, noting the increase in the number of magistrate courts from 135 to 140.
This expansion, she noted, is aimed at decentralizing the delivery of justice and making it more accessible to the public.
In addition, the High Court reviewed over 27,000 cases, which contributed to easing prison overcrowding by facilitating the release or transfer of nearly 30,000 inmates.
Koome also highlighted the success of the Judiciary’s Mahakama Popote initiative, which distributes cases nationally for adjudication, and the nationwide roll-out of e-filing across all court stations.
These technological innovations, she said, are central to enhancing the efficiency of the judicial process.
However, despite these achievements, Koome acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly in terms of resource constraints.
“Currently, magistrates handle an average of 1,304 cases per person, while judges of superior courts handle 676 cases each—far exceeding the recommended workload,” she said.
She emphasised that such workloads hinder the timely delivery of justice, which remains a priority for the Judiciary.
Looking forward to 2025, Koome reiterated her commitment to continuous improvement and to the principles of integrity and accountability.
She noted that judicial accountability cannot be achieved in isolation and requires collective efforts across society, including addressing corruption within the broader legal profession.
“The Judicial Service Commission (JSC), established by the Constitution to promote accountability and integrity in judicial service, remains resolute in investigating and addressing complaints related to unethical conduct,” Koome affirmed.
“We must continue to ensure fairness and upholding of the highest standards of conduct in all corners of society.”
Koome called on all Kenyans to remain vigilant and united in safeguarding the rule of law.
She urged Kenyans to actively participate in promoting the integrity of the Judiciary, warning against any efforts to weaken the institution.
“As we step into 2025, I am confident that we will build on this momentum,” Koome said.
“Our focus will remain on enhancing the quality of justice for all Kenyans, catalyzing social transformation as envisioned in the Constitution.”
“Happy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year, 2025.”