The judiciary has launched guidelines for magistrates, Kadhis, and small claims courts to enhance justice delivery through virtual courts.
Speaking during the 12th Heads of Station Forum in Makueni on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Chief Justice Martha Koome stated that the Mahakama Popote Guidelines will enable the judiciary to leverage technology, allowing judicial officers to hear and determine cases filed in any part of the country.
According to the CJ, judicial officers will be able to hear and determine cases regardless of their physical location.
“Through virtual courts and e-filing, officers in stations with lower caseloads can assist stations with higher caseloads without the need for physical travel. By overcoming geographical constraints, Mahakama Popote promotes efficiency, flexibility, and timely access to justice,” she stated.
Further, Koome directed all court stations to organise Rapid Results Initiatives (RRIs) before December 2025, focused on uncontested succession matters to reduce backlog and improve user satisfaction.
“I am directing that all court stations organise Rapid Results Initiatives (RRIs) focused on uncontested succession matters in the first half of the next financial year, that is, before December 2025.”
“This intervention, if well-coordinated with Court Users Committees and Bar-Bench Committees, can deliver quick results in terms of reducing backlog and improving user satisfaction,” she added.
She also revealed that 276,385 cases were filed before the Magistrates’ Courts, while 269,067 were concluded during the first three quarters of the 2024/2025 financial year, covering July 2024 to March 2025.
“This yields an overall Case Clearance Rate (CCR) of 97.3 percent. Notably, 62 court stations, representing 44 per cent, achieved a CCR above 100 per cent. I commend these 62 court stations.
Judiciary allocation
On her part, Judiciary Chief Registrar Winfridah B. Mokaya revealed that the arm of government solarised 41 stations, leading to a reduction in electricity bills.
“On infrastructure and completion of courts and operationalisation of new courts, Dagoretti, Kamwangi, and Kombewa were operationalised, while Kwale and Marimanti are nearing completion. We also solarised 41 stations, leading to significant reductions in power bills in stations such as Marimanti and Kwale,” she added.
The Judiciary has received a significant funding boost in the 2025–26 national budget, with an allocation of Ksh27.8 billion, up from Ksh24.7 billion in the previous financial year, representing a Ksh3.1 billion boost.
Announcing the figures during his presentation in Parliament on June 12, 2025, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi stated that the increased funds will support the administration of justice across the country.
