Chief Justice Martha Koome has called upon the National Assembly to expedite the legislative process of passing the Tribunal Bill.
Justice Koome said the delay in passing the Bill has slowed down the streamlining and operationalization of tribunals in the country, and the full transitioning of all tribunals to the Judiciary.
“I appreciate the government’s efforts in this regard, particularly, the Cabinet’s approval of the Tribunals Bill last year. I take this opportunity to urge the National Assembly to expedite the legislative process, which has been pending before the Assembly, to bring this transition to its full conclusion,” said the CJ.
Koome was speaking during the launch of the Tribunals’ Shared Service Infrastructure, Website, and Tribunal Registry Manual held at Kenya Re Towers in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
The launch of the Tribunals’ Website, is an initiative aimed at making information more accessible to Kenyans as envisaged under the Judiciary’s Blueprint Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) which advocates for provision of people-centered justice.
Through the website, citizens will be able to access information on how to lodge cases, view cause lists for scheduled hearings, find out when tribunals will be sitting in towns outside Nairobi, and access other relevant information easily.
She announced that 26 tribunals have successfully transitioned from the Executive to the Judiciary, noting that the impact of the transition was already evident in the impressive performance of the Tribunals, as demonstrated by their Case Clearance Rates.
The CJ disclosed that in the last financial year, the tribunals achieved a remarkable case clearance rate of 111 percent and resolved 15,173 cases compared to the 13,712 cases filed.
She added that the rent restriction tribunal, the business premises rent tribunal, the tax appeal tribunal, and the cooperative tribunal led the way with the highest clearance rates.
Other areas where the Judiciary excelled include the Judiciary Performance Management and Measurement Unit, which evaluates Courts and Tribunals annually, the Sports Disputes Tribunal, Tax Appeals Tribunal, and Business Premises Rent Tribunal.
“I commend the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal for its dedication during the 2022 electoral cycle, where it promptly resolved pre-election disputes, enabling the 2022 general elections to proceed smoothly as planned,” the CJ noted.
Justice Koome said that the Judiciary had envisioned a one-stop home for Tribunals with a centralized location where all resources can be harnessed by providing shared administrative services where citizens can easily locate tribunal services.
“This will make justice more accessible, enhance efficiency in service delivery, and ensure prudent management of our resources,” she stated.
She added that the shared administrative support among tribunals allows the Judiciary to use its scarce resources more wisely, since many tribunals do not sit on a daily basis.
The Chief Justice directed that the One-Stop Shop concept of innovative shared services for Tribunals at Kenya Re Towers, be embraced and replicated at all Court Stations to ensure maximum utilization of space.
“Tribunals should be able to find suitable space and courtrooms when they visit Court stations outside of Nairobi during their circuits. Therefore, I urge the Courts Stations to adopt this innovative model of shared services,” she said.
The CJ expressed confidence that launch of the Tribunals’ Registry Manual will harmonize and standardize registry operations across all Tribunals and streamline operations and provide greater clarity and consistency in registry processes.
“To ensure that the Tribunals deliver expeditious and effective services, it is crucial that the appellate processes work efficiently as well,” said Koome and urged Judiciary staff to embrace structured engagement between the Tribunals and the superior courts to enhance the administration of justice.
“As we navigate an era of rapid socio-legal evolution, it is imperative that we strengthen and expand these pathways to justice,” she added.
Tribunals, often the first point of contact for many Kenyans seeking justice, are the grassroots gateways where the voices of our citizens are heard and where they receive the justice they deserve, “said CJ Koome.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Speaker, National Assembly Gladys Boss said the enactment of the Tribunals Bill, 2023 that is currently awaiting Second Reading by the House will help in rationalizing and regulating the establishment of Tribunals.
“It seeks to streamline the governance and operations of Tribunals, provide a reasonable standard for the establishment of Tribunals and set appropriate qualifications for chairpersons and members of Tribunals,” she stated.
The Deputy Speaker added that the tribunals also ensure expeditious settlement of disputes, enhance access to justice and improve quality of service delivery by Tribunals.
Other speakers at the event were Justices Isaac Lenaola of the Supreme Court, Kathurima M’Inoti of the Court of Appeal and Alfred Mabeya of the High Court.
By Bernadette Khaduli
