Wote: Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) Philomena Mwilu has called on Heads of Court Stations to strengthen the supervision of registry operations to boost court efficiency and service delivery.

According to Kenya News Agency, Mwilu made these remarks during the closing ceremony of the 12th Annual Heads of Station Forum held in a hotel in Wote town in Makueni County. She emphasized that the productivity of any court is closely tied to the efficiency of its registry. Mwilu stated, “No matter how competent and industrious a judge or judicial officer may be, if the registry is inefficient for whatever reason, that court will also be unproductive.”

Mwilu commended this year’s forum for its focus on registry operations, describing it as a critical area in the administration of justice. She stressed the importance of getting things right at the registries to ensure the smooth functioning of the courts.

The Deputy Chief Justice urged heads of station to actively supervise registry staff, particularly in the assessment of court fees before decrees are issued. She warned that errors or omissions at this stage can prejudice parties and erode public confidence in the judicial process.

Justice Mwilu also highlighted the importance of preventing the loss or misplacement of case files. She directed station heads to consistently use file movement registers to track all files entering or leaving the registry, noting that record keeping and effective management of registers remain a challenge.

Further directives from Mwilu included ensuring that all files are returned to the registry immediately after judgments and rulings are delivered, facilitating appeals, and preventing misplacement. She also called for the timely processing of cash bail and deposit refunds, as well as the return of securities upon request, emphasizing that delays in these areas are unjust and tarnish service delivery.

Additionally, Mwilu urged judicial leaders to eliminate the culture of ‘facilitation’ for services that should be freely provided, highlighting the need to restore integrity to court registries. She reminded the Heads of Station of their roles as the face of the Judiciary at the grassroots, urging them to lead with accountability and a sense of service.

The forum, themed ‘Enhancing Access to Justice through Efficient and Sustainable Registry Operations,’ brought together Heads of Station from 143 Magistrates’ Courts and 14 stand-alone Kadhi’s Courts.