Kenya’s top judge has challenged newly appointed Court of Appeal judges to raise the bar on efficiency and service delivery as the Judiciary steps up efforts to tackle delays that have long frustrated litigants.Chief Justice Martha Koome on Monday called on the judges to embrace excellence as the Judiciary rolls out its Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) blueprint, an ambitious reform agenda aimed at restoring public confidence in the justice system.Speaking in Nairobi, during the official opening of the judges’ induction workshop, Koome said the blueprint envisions courts as centres of excellence, with a strong focus on timely resolution of cases.
She stressed that the Court of Appeal must uphold high standards of jurisprudence while significantly improving operational efficiency.
“We are excited about your appointment because it gives the Judiciary more hands on deck, enabling us to effectively tackle concerns about delayed appellate proceedings,” Koome said.
“The most common complaint by the Kenyan people against the Judiciary is the delay in the hearing and determination of cases and appeals.”
The Chief Justice said the STAJ blueprint sets clear institutional targets, including a three-year timeline for concluding cases at trial courts and one year at the appellate level.
She noted that the new judges were joining the institution at a critical moment, as the Judiciary seeks to transform public perception by delivering justice without undue delay.
Court of Appeal President Daniel Musinga welcomed the recruitment of 15 additional judges, saying the move would strengthen the court’s capacity to sit more regularly, constitute benches predictably, and serve different stations consistently.
“This injection of judicial manpower will allow us to meet the expectations of litigants who deserve timely and fair hearings,” Musinga said.
Chief Registrar Winfridah Mokaya assured the judges of full administrative and operational support, noting that the appointments come at a time when the Court of Appeal urgently needed a boost in capacity to meet rising demand.
The induction workshop marks a key step in strengthening the appellate court, with the new judges expected to play a central role in reducing case backlogs and reinforcing the judiciary’s commitment to efficient and accessible justice.
“The most common complaint by the Kenyan people against the Judiciary is delay in the hearing and determination of cases and appeals,” Koome reiterated-STAR
