Supreme Court Judge Ouko warns of eroding public trust due to case delays, graft
Ouko criticised the system’s sluggishness and called for an urgent overhaul in the way judicial processes are conducted.
Supreme Court Judge William Ouko has raised the alarm over what he termed as an unacceptable delay in the delivery of justice, questioning why some cases take up to two decades to be resolved despite the ongoing digital shift in the Judiciary.
Speaking during the launch of the Tribunals Shared Services in Kisumu on Monday, Ouko criticised the system’s sluggishness and called for an urgent overhaul in the way judicial processes are conducted.
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“What’s the rationale of filing a case today and delivering justice two decades later? It makes neither legal nor moral sense in the pursuit of justice,” he said.
Ouko said it was time the Judiciary abandoned its outdated methods and embraced digital reforms that would help reduce the backlog and speed up dispute resolution.
“We must change the way we operate. We can no longer dispense justice in an analogue manner,” he said.
Ouko also addressed the perception of corruption in the justice system, warning that it is damaging public trust.
“It signals that something is amiss. These are the pressing legal challenges we must confront. People expect fairness and impartiality in the handling of their matters,” he told judicial staff.
Fair handling of cases
Ouko expressed concern over the number of cases that are escalated from the lowest courts to the Supreme Court, often due to dissatisfaction with rulings. He urged judicial officers to ensure cases are handled fairly, efficiently and with finality.
“As judicial officers, we must find faster and more effective ways of resolving legal disputes, delivering justice in a fair, transparent, and timely manner,” he said.
Ouko welcomed the opening of the Supreme Court Registry and the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court in Kisumu, describing the development as a critical step in enhancing access to justice in the region.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, who presided over the launch at the Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency, said the Tribunals Shared Services initiative would significantly improve access to justice across Nyanza.
Koome said the system had already adopted digital tools such as e-filing, virtual hearings, and centralised data management, adding that Kisumu is the second county after Nairobi to roll out the model.
The shared services bring together over 26 tribunals under one roof, integrating functions like IT, finance, infrastructure, communication, and supply chain.
“This model streamlines operations, eliminates duplication, and enhances coordination across tribunals by pooling resources and leveraging economies of scale,” Koome said.
She urged Parliament to speed up the passage of the Tribunals Bill, which will provide the legal backing needed to fully implement the initiative.
“We are hopeful Parliament will move swiftly to formalise the operational structure of this initiative,” Koome stated.
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