Chief Justice Martha Koome has said public confidence in Kenya’s Judiciary depends on how citizens experience justice in their daily interactions with courts, urging judicial officers to prioritise fairness, dignity and respect in service delivery.
Koome said grand promises alone were insufficient to sustain public trust, emphasising the need for practical reforms that make justice accessible to all citizens regardless of their financial status or connections to powerful individuals.
Speaking at the Global Trust Summit during a session titled “Rebuilding Trust from the Frontline,” the Chief Justice reaffirmed that judicial independence was a constitutional guarantee intended to protect the rights of the public rather than a privilege reserved for judges.
“Judicial independence is not a privilege for judges. It is an unyielding constitutional guarantee for the people,” Koome said.
She noted that Kenya’s Constitution provides for an impartial justice system that should remain free from interference based on wealth, social status or proximity to political power.
According to Koome, the Judiciary must ensure that every person seeking justice receives fair treatment, regardless of their background or ability to navigate the court system.
She highlighted the Judiciary’s Social Transformation Through Access to Justice (STAJ) blueprint as a key framework for addressing barriers that prevent citizens from accessing legal services.
The initiative seeks to reduce the effects of distance and poverty through measures including the expansion of Small Claims Courts, community-led Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), digital e-filing and virtual court hearings.
Koome said scaling up these services would bring justice closer to communities, allowing more people to resolve disputes without facing unnecessary financial and logistical challenges.
Small Claims Courts are designed to provide a simpler avenue for resolving qualifying civil disputes, while Alternative Justice Systems offer community-based approaches to dispute resolution where appropriate.
Digital services, including electronic filing and virtual hearings, are also intended to improve convenience and reduce the need for physical court attendance in suitable cases.
However, Koome stressed that improving access to justice must go hand in hand with accountability within the Judiciary.
She said judicial performance should not be assessed solely by the number of cases concluded but also by how people are treated throughout the process.
“We cannot ask others to change unless we first look in the mirror,” she said, calling on judicial officers to demonstrate empathy, dignity and respect.
Koome urged stakeholders to work together to make justice accessible, fair and responsive to the needs of all Kenyans.