Kenyan Judiciary leverages automation to improve service delivery

NAIROBI, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) — The Judiciary of Kenya has fast-tracked the digitization process in a bid to ease the backlog of cases and ensure that litigants, including ordinary citizens, state agencies, and the private sector, are adequately served, senior officials said on Monday.
Chief Justice and President of the Kenyan Supreme Court Martha Koome said some virtual courts are already in operation countrywide to facilitate the remote filing of cases and delivery of judgment.
“We have made progress in the digitization of the justice system to ease the backlog, improve transparency, and reduce incidents of graft,” Koome said during a roundtable meeting with leading bilateral partners in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. “With enhanced internet connectivity and data storage, our courts are able to operate virtually.”
According to Koome, more than 50 percent of civil cases are being filed virtually as the Judiciary leverages digital tools to streamline key operations and reduce carbon footprint and pilferage.
Through digitization, Kenya has established a people-centered justice system, improved efficiency, and dispensed with commercial and civil cases within a shorter period, Koome said.
She added that investing in virtual courts has fulfilled the Judiciary’s quest to become green, lean, efficient, and financially sustainable.
In July, Koome launched e-filing systems for all courts countrywide and halted the printing of pleadings and other documents while directing advocates and litigants to access vital information about cases through a portal.
Winfridah Boyani Mokaya, chief registrar of the Judiciary, said the strategic use of technology will enable litigants and advocates to monitor cases in real time besides reducing geographical barriers to accessing justice. ■