This archive report was first published on 14 July 2019.
Published on July 14, 2019, Chief Justice David Maraga has been working tirelessly to address the pressing issue of the judicial backlog in Kenya.
With the adage 'justice delayed is justice denied' in mind, the Chief Justice has set ambitious targets for the courts to clear the old cases, and it seems to be yielding positive results.
Some cases that have been pending for five years or more are finally being concluded, bringing relief to the accused and their families.
Another significant achievement has been the expansion and construction of new courts across the country, making justice more accessible to the people.
With the support of the World Bank, 56 construction projects are currently underway, aimed at bringing justice closer to the people.
One such example is the Vihiga Law Courts in western Kenya, which has seen a significant improvement in the disposal of cases, with 94% of criminal cases concluded within 360 days.
While this is commendable, it serves as a reminder that there is still much work to be done to restore public confidence in the judicial system.
The only way to achieve this is by boosting the capacity for speedy determination of cases, which is a top priority for the Chief Justice.
