The Judiciary has revealed that magistrates’ courts, which handle the bulk of legal proceedings, recorded the highest number of case adjournments in 2024, with witness absenteeism emerging as the leading cause. According to data released by the Judiciary, as of December 2024, magistrates’ courts accounted for 16% of all case postponements, translating to 68,785 adjourned hearings out of 431,823 case events.
A deeper analysis of adjournment causes indicated that 23% of cases were delayed due to the failure of witnesses to appear in court. Other contributing factors included advocates not being ready (10%), judges attending official duties (7%), and court unavailability (6%).
While magistrates’ courts had the highest postponement rate, other courts also experienced significant delays. The Court of Appeal reported an 11% adjournment rate, followed by the Environment and Land Court (8.1%), the High Court (5.1%), and the Employment and Labour Relations Court (5%). Small Claims Courts recorded a 4.3% adjournment rate, tribunals 4%, Kadhi courts 3.5%, while the Supreme Court did not report any adjournments.
In an effort to curb delays and ensure swift justice, Chief Justice Martha Koome has been actively enforcing a “no adjournment” policy. The Judiciary has also been engaging stakeholders and the public through weekly sensitization forums to address key judicial concerns.
To mitigate case adjournments, the Judiciary has intensified recruitment efforts aimed at increasing judicial capacity. Since the initiative began, 88 judges have been appointed, comprising 2 Supreme Court Judges, 17 Court of Appeal Judges, 40 High Court Judges, 9 Employment and Labour Relations Court Judges, and 20 Environment and Land Court Judges. Additionally, 70 magistrates, 142 legal researchers, and 2,580 judicial staff have been recruited to enhance efficiency in case handling.
Despite these interventions, the Judiciary acknowledges that addressing witness absenteeism remains critical in reducing delays. Continued sensitization, enforcement of stricter attendance policies, and possible legislative reforms may be necessary to improve court attendance rates and enhance judicial efficiency.
With these measures, the Judiciary remains committed to ensuring justice is delivered efficiently and without unnecessary delays.
