Chief Justice Martha Koome has issued a firm directive to the judiciary, calling for expedited judgment delivery and a crackdown on court imposters, as part of ongoing reforms to enhance the credibility and efficiency of Kenya’s justice system.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Annual High Court Leaders Conference at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa, Koome emphasized the need for improved case management to avoid the backlog of pending judgments. She highlighted that while the law stipulates judgments should be delivered within 60 days after the conclusion of hearings, numerous complaints have emerged about cases pending for over a year.
“The statutory requirement is that judgment should be delivered within 60 days, but we are still receiving complaints of judgments pending for over a year,” Koome said.
To address this, she proposed the adoption of Rapid Results Initiatives (RRI), especially targeting sensitive and high-impact case categories such as family, succession, and commercial matters. Koome particularly called for urgent action on uncontested succession cases, describing prolonged delays in such matters as unjustifiable.
Simultaneously, the Chief Justice raised alarm over the presence of brokers and imposters operating within the judiciary, asserting that these individuals continue to damage the institution’s reputation. She urged judicial officers to take decisive steps to eliminate such actors from court premises.
“These individuals position themselves as intermediaries, giving judges and judicial officers a bad name,” she said.
Koome announced collaboration with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate and eliminate imposters within court facilities. She also introduced the establishment of court integrity committees at every High Court station and division to bolster transparency and accountability.
“These committees will bring together stakeholders from across the justice sector to address integrity issues and corruption collectively,” she noted.
Koome lauded the judges’ dedication during the conference, where 120 case files were reviewed. Outcomes included 49 offenders placed under structured probation and 20 released for reintegration, reflecting progress under the Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) blueprint.
“This work reinforces our commitment to restorative and green justice,” she concluded.
