Chief Justice Urges Parliament to Fast Track Tribunals Bill
Chief Justice Urges Parliament to Fast Track Tribunals Bill
KISUMU, Kenya – May 12, 2025 Chief Justice Martha Koome has urged Members of Parliament to fast track the enactment of the long pending Tribunals Bill, emphasizing its critical role in harmonising the operations of tribunals.
Speaking at the launch of Kisumu Tribunals Shared Services, the CJ noted that the legislation will enhance legal clarity, and solidify the foundation upon which a coherent and effective tribunals system can be built nationwide.
The Bill will provide Tribunals with a solid legal foundation to ensure their independence, clear structure, and transparency. It will also harmonize the appointments process, safeguard tenure, and reinforce impartiality—ensuring that Tribunals serve the public without fear or favour.
Chief Justice Koome stated that the launch of the Kisumu Tribunals Shared Services Centre is part of the Judiciary’s decentralisation agenda—a tangible step toward demystifying and democratising justice. She said the Centre brings tribunal services out of Nairobi and embeds them within the communities they are meant to serve.
“Residents of Nyakach, Ahero, Muhoroni, Seme, and surrounding counties should not be burdened with expensive and time-consuming travel to Nairobi for tribunal services. Our goal is to ensure that our people should be able to access justice where they are and that the justice that we deliver should reflect who they are,” said Justice Koome.
The Chief Justice said that the Shared Services model for tribunals is designed to ensure optimal utilization of public resources and promote the harmonization of services. The model aims to reduce fragmentation and complexity, making it easier for ordinary Kenyans to know where to go, whom to consult, and how to get assistance when resolving disputes.
“This means that tribunals such as the Business Premises Rent Tribunal, the Rent Restriction Tribunal, the Co-operative Tribunal, the Tax Appeals Tribunal, and the HIV & AIDS Tribunal can benefit from centralized support services—including registry, finance, procurement, ICT, and human resources—under one roof. The result is improved efficiency, reduced costs, and consistent service delivery across the board,” said the Chief Justice.
She further emphasized that, in the digital age, true access to justice also requires digital connectivity. She noted that the Centre will feature a Digital Hub—a space where members of the public, including self-represented litigants, can access internet services, acquire digital literacy skills, file cases online, track matters virtually, or attend virtual hearings.
Judicial Service Commissioner, Jacqueline Ingutiah, who was present at the event stressed that the JSC is aware of the dual role of Tribunals in the administration of justice and promoting efficiency.
“First the quasi-judicial powers granted to the Tribunals require them to resolve disputes independently, promptly without procedural technicalities. Unlike traditional courts and depending on the nature of disputes, Tribunals can have adversarial, regulatory, inquisitorial or meditative functions or a mixture of the four. Secondly, tribunals are required to support line agencies to improve public administration,” said Commissioner Ingutiah.
Speaking during the same event, Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o welcomed the launch of the Tribunals Shared Services Centre terming it a new dawn of justice in the region.
“We celebrate a momentous step forward in our collective journey towards a more just people-centred judicial system. Let this establishment be a beacon of hope, fairness and unwavering justice for all and let it contribute to a more peaceful, harmonious and prosperous county, where every voice can be heard and every right protected and every dispute can find a just resolution.”
Governor Nyong’o later in the day officially handed over the newly constructed Kisumu City Court to Chief Justice Koome, together with an Alternative Justice Systems Suite. The two facilitates, whose construction was funded by the County Government, are aimed at improving access to justice to Wananchi in Kisumu.
—ends
