Nairobi: The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has launched a task force to tackle inefficiency and corruption in courts and land registries. Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome welcomed the initiative, saying it aligned with the Judiciary's own Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) vision and goes to the very heart of the country's shared constitutional responsibility to ensure that justice is accessible, expeditious, and corruption-free.
According to Kenya News Agency, Koome acknowledged registries as central pillars of the country's courts and land governance structures. In a speech read on her behalf by Justice Eric Ogola, the CJ stated that there is no room for corruption in registries, emphasizing that their effectiveness and integrity directly affect public trust and confidence in Kenya's justice and land governance system. The CJ urged the public not to give bribes and to demand proper service, highlighting the importance of efficiency, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the judiciary.
Koome stressed that registry inefficiencies, such as losing files or acting dishonestly, can delay cases and erode public confidence in the judicial system. She reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening the judiciary's internal integrity mechanisms and vowed to work closely with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and other agencies to address complaints of corruption and unethical behavior.
The CJ encouraged making complaints through proper court channels for effective response and asserted that efficient and ethical registries are critical to the transformation the Judiciary seeks under STAJ. She highlighted the role of innovation in improving efficiency through digitization, e-filing, and case tracking systems, noting these technological achievements have reduced delays and increased transparency.
Justice Ogola, representing the Judiciary, emphasized the deep connection between the Judiciary and the Law Society, pointing out that many magistrates and judges come from the LSK. He advocated for unity and open dialogue between the Judiciary and the Bar, acknowledging operational challenges like underfunding and slow digital transformation.
Ogola also addressed regional disparities in legal practice and urged the LSK to champion rules for safe custody, referencing preventable deaths in police cells. LSK President Faith Odhiambo described the task force as a long-overdue call to accountability and reform, criticizing persistent issues like vanishing files and unethical conduct.
Senior Counsel Wilfred Nderitu, the alternate chair of the task force, stressed the need for evidence-based reforms and accountability. He highlighted inefficiencies in land registries and called for actionable solutions, emphasizing the importance of quality in judicial decisions over mere speed.
As Kenya faces rising cases of extrajudicial killings, registry fraud, and systemic delays, the formation of the LSK Efficiency and Ethics Taskforce is timely. The task force will produce monthly reports and engage stakeholders from judiciary staff to litigants, with a mandate to audit both digital and physical processes and recommend practical reforms.