This archive report was first published on 13 July 2021.
July 13, 2021 - In a bid to enhance the delivery of justice in Kenya, Chief Justice Martha Koome has assured that the Judiciary will prioritize the conclusion of over 400 pending corruption cases worth Sh11.4 billion.
The assurance was made during a meeting with officials from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) at her office on Monday.
According to the Chief Justice, the Judiciary will pursue timely delivery of justice, with a focus on ensuring that no case stays in a trial court beyond three years or in an appellate court beyond one year.
She emphasized that courts must remain accountable and efficient to meet the aspirations of the Kenyan public.
During the meeting, the EACC officials informed the Chief Justice that some of the corruption cases have been in court for 15 years, with witnesses dying, retiring from public service, or being unable to remember details, resulting in the loss of cases.
The EACC has finalised 273 cases with a conviction rate of 62 per cent between 2015 and 2020, recovering assets worth Sh17 billion and averting a further loss of Sh38 billion through proactive investigation.
The EACC receives 3,500 complaints annually on corruption for action through its headquarters, 11 regional offices, and service desks in 50 Huduma Centres across the country.
The EACC Chief Executive Officer, Twalib Mbarak, called for greater collaboration with the Judiciary and asked the Chief Justice to operationalise anti-corruption registries in other towns.
