The Judiciary is working on improving service delivery at the Makadara Law Courts by deploying ICT in efforts to decongest the court.
Chief Justice Martha Koome said that 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 that they are working with their ICT experts to improve the systems to facilitate faster processing of fines and bonds.
She added that plans were underway to also have an ICT office at Makadara Law Court, which would address any system challenges promptly as well as ensure seamless verification payments.
The CJ said that they were also 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 that they were looking at ways of decriminalising some traffic charges, thereby allowing the offenders to be fined and released, which would also decongest cells and prisons.
“As we conclude preparations to issue the State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice Report, we are cognisant of the milestones realised in FY 2023/24 to bring justice closer to the people. Magistrates Courts have recorded a case clearance rate of 98% with continued improvement,” said Koome.
She said that 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,” said the CJ.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
