Residents of Kiambu can now breathe a sigh of relief following the launch of an electronic filing system intended to mitigate against infrastructural barriers that have been a hindrance to access to justice.
Speaking during the launching ceremony at Kiambu Law Courts, Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi said that adoption of the e-filing module will not only ease the manner in which court cases are filed and processed but also improve service delivery.
“This is just one step in the journey towards a more efficient and effective judicial system. There is still much work to be done and we must continue to work together to ensure all Kenyans have access to the justice they deserve,” said Amadi.
The Judiciary, she noted, has partnered with the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy and the Communications Authority to ensure connectivity in not only Kiambu but all stations across the entire country to ensure smooth transition.
“As we are all aware, ICT is not the judiciary’s core mandate; we have to therefore work with specialist institutions to increase our capacity and implement our programmes.” International Development Law Organisation (IDLO) is presently supporting us in phased rollout of e-filing,” she said.
According to a judicial report, the E-File and Commercial Justice Sector Reforms Survey Report established a satisfaction index of 69 percent, with 80 percent of users finding the system user-friendly and 89 percent confirming the efficiency of the system.
Kiambu Member of Parliament (MP) Machua Waithaka lauded the Judiciary for the homegrown e-system that will enable Kiambu residents to access justice remotely, adding that the future of the judicial system is promising and devoid of any future pandemic.
“ICT will change the way justice is delivered and lost files will be a thing of the past. This will improve case management, promote transparency and build public trust,” he said.
Waithaka called upon Kiambu residents to embrace the model, saying that it will ease the backlog of cases and tedious court trips.
By Steve Biko
