Nairobi: Chief Justice Martha Koome has underscored the commitment by the Judiciary to continuously innovate in order to provide better services to Kenyans across the country. The Chief Justice made the remarks when she launched the 2023/2024 Performance Management and Measurement Evaluation (PMMU) Report, the Judiciary Service Delivery Innovations Report, and the E-Judiciary Mobile App, key initiatives geared towards efficient service delivery in the municipal courts.
According to Kenya News Agency, the mobile app, described as a ‘virtual courthouse’, allows users to access court services such as virtual hearings, court filings, and document verification remotely, said the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court building during the event. ‘These initiatives reaffirm our pledge to uphold constitutional values of equity, integrity, efficiency, and access to justice, as outlined in our institutional vision of Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ),’ Koome said.
The newly launched E-Judiciary Mobile App, now available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, is designed to transform how Kenyans interact with the justice system. Litigants across Kenya can now verify court orders, review probate and administration matters, consult cause lists, join virtual hearings, and confirm fee payments without setting foot in a courthouse, dismantling many of the geographic and physical barriers that have long hindered access to justice.
Koome stated that the need for physical presence in courts has been removed by this innovation, marking a turning point, especially for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those in remote areas that will improve service delivery. The PMMU Report showed significant progress with a 9% drop in case backlog and a 99% clearance rate, reflecting strong performance across 337 courts and units.
Koome however took note of challenges such as staffing shortages, underfunding, and high caseloads and urged increased support from Parliament and the Executive to meet the Judiciary’s goals. Among the milestones achieved were the establishment of new courts and the expansion of virtual services through programs like ‘Mahakama Popote’.
The ‘Mahakama Popote’ virtual court system will advance justice delivery and reduce case backlogs by allowing judicial officers in less-burdened courts to assist busier stations remotely. ‘Mahakama Popote has enabled the remote handling of 7,665 cases, with 6,269 successfully concluded thus demonstrating its effectiveness in improving access to justice,’ Koome reiterated.
The judiciary also resolved over 2,200 cases via mediation and alternative justice systems. Koome lauded judicial staff for their dedication and emphasized the need for continued innovation and collaboration to ensure accessible, fair, and efficient justice for all.
The Integrated Court Management Systems (ICMS) Committee Chairperson, Justice Isaac Lenaola, emphasized the transformative role of digital innovation in justice delivery, noting that the app, downloaded over 5,000 times during its prototype phase, will revolutionize court access for citizens in remote areas using mobile phones. ‘National budget cuts previously constrained our finances, including the withdrawal of Sh400 million in ICT investments following the 2023 anti-government protests, yet the judiciary’s ICT directorate has made significant progress in digitizing court services,’ Lenaola said.
Lenaola, however, stressed that the budget cuts have delayed the shift to a paperless judiciary and urged caution in the use of artificial intelligence in legal proceedings and called for proper guidelines to prevent its misuse. Public Service and Human Capital Development Cabinet Secretary (CS), Geoffrey Ruku praised the judiciary’s commitment to evidence-based performance and technological advancement, aligning with the government’s broader digitization agenda.
‘This report is a strategic tool. It allows the judiciary to reflect on achievements, identify challenges, and map a path toward continuous improvement,’ he said. The CS emphasized the judiciary’s crucial role in resolving long-standing tax administration disputes, some valued in the billions, which he noted would be instrumental in helping the government reduce Kenya’s fiscal deficit.
‘Expediting these cases will unlock much-needed revenue to support both the judiciary and other government arms,’ Ruku said. He further applauded the e-judiciary mobile app as a flagship innovation aligned with Kenya Kwanza’s 2022-2027 public sector digitization agenda, calling it ‘a massive leap forward in transforming the justice system into a transparent, timely, and citizen-responsive institution.’
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Winfridah Mokaya, described the event as a defining moment in the judiciary’s journey toward modernizing operations. ‘This launch is not just symbolic; it represents our pledge to build a judiciary that is adaptive, accessible, and accountable,’ Mokaya said. The launch signifies a broader effort to modernize justice services and improve the lives of all Kenyans through technology and institutional reform.