DCJ Philomena Mwilu urges heads of stations to enhance supervision of registry operations

Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu has called on the heads of court stations to strengthen the supervision of registry operations to boost court efficiency and service delivery.

DCJ Mwilu urged heads of station to actively supervise registry staff, particularly to ensure that court fees are correctly assessed, especially before decrees are issued.

She warned that errors or omissions at this stage can prejudice parties and erode public confidence in the judicial process.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 12th Annual Heads of Station Forum in Makueni, Mwilu stressed that the productivity of any court is closely tied to the efficiency of its registry.

"No matter how competent and industrious a judge or judicial officer may be, if the registry is inefficient for whatever reason, that court will also be unproductive," she stated.

She commended this year's forum for focusing on registry operations, describing it as a critical area in the administration of justice. "We must get things right at our registries," she emphasised.

Justice Mwilu also emphasised the importance of preventing the loss or misplacement of case files, directing station heads to consistently use file movement registers to track all files entering or leaving the registry.

"Record keeping and the effective management of registers remain a challenge in our registries. How long must we continue assessing courts to ensure registers are properly maintained? These are critical tools that support efficiency, accountability, and transparency," she said.

She further directed that all files be returned to the registry immediately after judgments and rulings are delivered, to ensure proper order, facilitate appeals, and prevent misplacement.

In addition, Justice Mwilu called for the timely processing of cash bail and deposit refunds, as well as the return of securities upon request.

Additionally, she said holding reasonable timelines is unjust and reflects poorly on our service delivery.

DCJ Mwilu also urged judicial leaders to eliminate the culture of "facilitation" for services that should be freely provided, emphasising the need to restore integrity to court registries.

"As Heads of Station, you are not just administrators - you are the face of the Judiciary at the grassroots. The tone, discipline, efficiency, and fairness of your station begin and end with your leadership. Let us lead with accountability, urgency, and a deep sense of service to the people we serve," she concluded.

The forum, themed "Enhancing Access to Justice through Efficient and Sustainable Registry Operations," brought together Heads of Station from 143 Magistrates' Courts and 14 stand-alone Kadhis' Courts.

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