Judges have been urged to take individual responsibility to ensure that the backlog of cases in their courts are cleared.
Speaking during the Environment and Land Court annual judges conference in Mombasa, Chief Justice Martha Koome pointed out that judges should take a personal initiative to ensure that justice is not delayed.
“You must reduce the number of adjournments and strive to resolve cases with fewer hearings. To do this, always endeavour to make each case hearing date meaningful. You must discourage interlocutory applications and preliminary objections,” she said.
Additionally, she urged the judges to take the initiative of actively monitoring the progress of the cases in their courts by finding out from time to time, how many cases are pending and for how long they have been in the system.
“We must always try to track cases which are filed and those which are pending. We should not leave these roles to our court administrators or registry staff. We, as judges must take the lead in case management. It is we who determine cases and as such must manage them,” she said.
Koome at the same time lauded their performance by noting their exceptional reduction of case backlog during the 2019-20 financial year, with a case clearance rate of over 100 per cent.
“This is very commendable. With an addition of 18 judges, I have no doubt that your expedition of cases will continue to be rated as excellent,” she said.
She also called on judges to prepare for increased caseload as the country recovers from the effects of the lockdown caused by the pandemic.
She pledged support in the area of Information Communication Technology, in light of the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic to ensure justice is dispensed expeditiously.
She pointed out that even though the Covid pandemic had presented challenges, judges and other judicial officers could now deal with all chamber matters including judgments and rulings remotely.
“No advocate or litigant needs to come to court for a chamber application, a judgment or ruling. The advocates and litigants acting in person can also file cases from the comfort of their offices and homes and can attend court remotely from wherever they are. This has saved litigants money and time,” Koome said.
