This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
Nairobi courts are set to go digital with the introduction of an electronic case filing system. The move comes as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic, and the courts have upscaled operations following the downsizing of functions on March 14 after Kenya noted the first COVID-19 case.
According to Chief Registrar of Judiciary Anne Amadi, the electronic filing system, dubbed “e-filing,” will begin formal operation early next month. The system is already open for use, and the public is encouraged to familiarise itself with it prior to the official launch.
“Any computer or device that allows attachment of files will be sufficient to access the system and carry out the e-filing,” Amadi said in a statement issued on June 16, 2020. The system can be accessed via https://efiling.court.go.ke.
The electronic filing system is part of the Judiciary's efforts to build upon the existing ICT infrastructure for service delivery. The courts are already increasingly using ICT platforms to conduct hearings and deliver judgments and rulings.
Chief Justice David Maraga had earlier given a number of safety protocols to allow judges and litigants to observe safety in the prosecution of cases. The move to electronic case filing is expected to be followed by Court Recording and Transcription Systems.
