CJ Koome: Justice cannot be for sale or compromised for anything
Koome raised concerns about frequent case adjournments, which she said are a major cause of public frustration and declining confidence in the courts.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has called for judicial reforms, insisting that justice must never be compromised or delayed due to inefficiencies in the system.
Speaking on Tuesday, Koome raised concerns about frequent case adjournments, which she said are a major cause of public frustration and declining confidence in the courts.
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“We have said many times that justice cannot be for sale, that justice cannot be compromised for anything,” she stated.
The Chief Justice also noted that unnecessary adjournments not only slow down the legal process but also inconvenience litigants and advocates who often spend entire days in courtrooms only for their cases to be postponed.
“One of the major issues raised by court users is the frequency of adjournments, many of which are avoidable. These delays frustrate the public and undermine trust in our courts,” she said.
Koome also pointed out that overcrowded court schedules were another challenge contributing to delays.
CJ Martha Koome speaks on public scrutiny, service delivery and integrity in the Judiciary while virtually opening the Magistrates and Kadhis Colloquium being held in Naivasha.
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) March 25, 2025
Koome: We as judicial officers and judges find ourselves on trial and public examinations for how we… pic.twitter.com/kGsMx3I8kk
She highlighted instances where as many as 50 cases are listed in a single day, making it nearly impossible for all of them to be heard.
“I have seen some court lists with as many as 50 cases. This practice results in long delays, and in many instances, some cases are not even reached at all. This is unfair to litigants and advocates who spend the entire day in court only to return home unheard,” Koome noted.
To address these challenges, the Chief Justice called on judicial officers to adopt better case management strategies by scheduling a realistic number of hearings per day.
“As judicial officers, we must ensure that we only list a manageable number of cases each day, guided by our capacity to hear and conclude them,” she said.
Koome described this moment as a crucial time for reflection and reform, urging the judiciary to reaffirm its commitment to integrity and efficiency in serving the public.
“This scrutiny is a moment of reckoning and an opportunity for deep reflection and reform. It compels us to reaffirm our commitment to the values of integrity and efficiency that define our calling to serve justice,” she said.
The Chief Justice assured the public that steps were being taken to improve case management and reduce administrative inefficiencies to ensure timely justice delivery.
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