Chief Justice Martha Koome has described the current scrutiny against the judiciary as a 'moment of reckoning and an opportunity for deep reflection and reform.' Koome, calling for a renewed commitment to integrity, said that justice must never be compromised whilst urging improved case management to prevent unnecessary delays.
The CJ took issue with frequent and avoidable case adjournments, saying they erode public confidence in the judiciary. "We have always said justice is not for sale, nor compromised for anything.
For this reason, we are intensifying our focus on improving case management and ensuring court users are not subjected to delays or administrative inefficiency," she said. "Frequent adjournments not only delay justice but also fuel growing public frustration and weaken trust in our courts." She also criticised overloaded court cause lists, where up to 50 cases are scheduled in a single day, leading to long delays and, in many cases, hearings that never take place. "As judiciary officers we must ensure that we only list a manageable number of cases each day guided by our capacity to hear and conclude them," she said.
Additionally, she condemned scheduling hearings during judicial officers' annual leave, calling the practice unacceptable. "Leave must be planned in advance, with blocked days clearly marked on the court calendar.
