An internal Judiciary report has exposed a serious human resource breakdown, with junior employees assigned work far outside their training and job descriptions.
The 147-page document, seen by The Star in 2018, says the mismatch affected several stations. A human resource assistant was put on guard duty, an account assistant handled HR work, and a human resource officer served as a court clerk. Support staff were also used to manage the exhibits store and prepare release orders, bails, fines and bonds.
The report further says a storekeeper was at times left to handle contracts and procurement. It adds that staff transfers were often made without corresponding changes to job titles, leaving employees deployed according to immediate need rather than formal role descriptions.
According to the report, the Judiciary lacked an approved administrative structure, clearly defined functions and proper job descriptions. That gap created duplication of duties, overlaps in responsibility and confusion over reporting lines.
The document also points to a weak chain of command between court stations and regional offices, warning that the arrangement could encourage indiscipline. It says judges, magistrates and other staff had low ICT literacy, while many court stations and the headquarters lacked enough computers.
The Judiciary’s only training institute was also criticised for having a limited curriculum. The report says it did not adequately cover specific needs such as ICT, procurement and human resources for support staff.
Staff shortages were another major concern. The report says the Judiciary had long complained about under-staffing, which had contributed to the backlog of cases. To ease the pressure, it recommended that each judge be supported by at least three assistants: a court assistant, a legal researcher and a secretary.
It also proposed that every court station with up to 10 magistrates should share one transcriber and one legal researcher.
When he launched the report, Chief Justice David Maraga dismissed fears of retrenchment and sweeping transfers. He said the reorganisation was meant to improve service delivery, restore public confidence and support professional growth.
“I want to specifically clarify that there will be no job losses. There will only be readjustment and movement within structures to ensure the desired optimal allocation of the current human resource outlay in the Judiciary,” Maraga said.
The report recommended recruiting staff with the right qualifications and experience, installing an integrated human resource information system, using an automated central phone care centre and redeploying telephone operators for better efficiency. It also called for appointment letters that clearly state new positions and duties whenever staff are transferred or promoted.
