Kiambu courts go digital
CJ Koome Launches e-filing in Kiambu County. CJ Martha Koome launched e-filing for courts in Kiambu County. These are Kiambu, Gatundu, Githunguri, Kahawa, Kikuyu, Limuru, Ruiru and Thika Law Courts. The county is the sixth after Nairobi, Mombasa Siaya, Kisumu and Homa Bay counties which are already on the platform.
“This marks a significant milestone in the Judiciary’s automation and digitization agenda, as we continue to leverage technology to drive our quest for efficiency in our processes and in the delivery of justice,” the CJ said.
The CJ noted that the Judiciary had invested in a Case Tracking System which enables it track the progress of every case from initiation to disposition.
“The Case Tracking System has automated registry operations including case registration, fee assessment, cause list preparation, court orders generation and performance reports,” CJ Koome observed adding that “the system has also decongested registries as most services are accessed online.”
She announced that the National Council of the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), which she Chairs, is working to scale up the interoperability of systems across the justice sector agencies for a more seamless and efficient experience for all users. She singled out the success of ODPP’s Uadilifu e-system which has already been integrated with Judiciary’s e-system noting that, “the success of e-filing hinges on the active participation of all stakeholders in the justice chain.”
CJ Koome called on the other justice chain agencies – the AGs, ODPP, National Police Service, Prisons, Probation and Aftercare Services and the Children’s Department – to work closely to ensure that the Judiciary’s e-filing system is fully integrated and operational within all institutions. “By harnessing the power of technology, we can deliver justice more effectively and expeditiously to the citizens,” she affirmed.
Kiambu County Governor, Dr. Kimani Wamatangi, who attended the event thanked the CJ for expanding the justice footprint in the County by establishing specialized courts. Kiambu has a Small Claims Court, the Environment and Land Court and the recently designated Sexual and Gender Based Violence Registry.
“Many Kiambu residents operate businesses as their mainstay. They have found the Thika Small Claims Court most useful as it deals with cases below the value of one million shillings within sixty days, thus making justice accessible, affordable and timely,” remarked Dr. Wamatangi.
He further termed the establishment of the Environment and Land Court in Thika a ‘game changer’ noting that, “Environment and Land matters are now being heard and dispensed with expeditiously. The court has reduced the backlog of the numerous land cases in Kiambu County.”
The Governor announced that the County Government of Kiambu has donated land to the Judiciary. “My administration has allocated a two acre piece of land to the Judiciary in Kiambu, near the current law courts. We have also embarked on the process of allocating five acres of land to Thika Law Courts. This will go a long way in ensuring expansion of Judiciary infrastructure in Kiambu”
