Kenya’s Chief Justice Martha Koome has told new judicial officers that their role demands a lifelong commitment to justice, integrity, professionalism and public service.

Speaking during the swearing in ceremony of 99 newly recruited resident magistrates who will also serve as adjudicators in small claims courts, the Justice Koome urged them to embrace the ideals of civility, collegiality, intellectual curiosity, impartiality and independence as they begin their careers on the bench.

Koome underlined the central role played by magistrates’ courts and small claims courts in the administration of justice, stressing that they are the primary point of contact between the judiciary and the public.

Further, the CJ observed, many litigants who appear before these courts are often unrepresented, meaning their experience of justice is largely shaped by their direct interactions with magistrates and adjudicators.

As such she underscored the importance of professionalism, fairness and efficiency in court proceedings, noting that the public’s perception of the judiciary is often formed through these encounters.

Equally, Koome commended the new magistrates and adjudicators for emerging successful from an exceptionally rigorous and highly competitive recruitment process conducted by the Judicial Service Commission during which more than 1,700 advocates applied for just 100 available positions of resident magistrate.

“I warmly welcome you into the judiciary and congratulations on your successful recruitment. Your appointment reflects confidence and trust placed in you by the nation to serve as custodians of justice and guardians of the rule of law,” she expressed.

The CJ further highlighted the judiciary’s reform agenda under the social transformation through access to justice-STAJ blueprint to transform court stations into centres of excellence in service delivery.

In this regard, she called on the newly appointed officers to actively support ongoing efforts to eliminate case backlog and reduce delays in the justice system.

“In line with these efforts, the Judiciary has set a target of ensuring that no case remains in a Magistrate’s Court for more than three years, while cases filed in Small Claims Courts should be resolved within sixty days,” stated Koome.

Notably, magistrates’ courts recently achieved a case clearance rate of 104 per cent – the first time the rate has exceeded 100 per cent since the judiciary began tracking the metric – indicating progress in reducing longstanding case backlogs.

Koome emphasised the importance of effective docket management, urging the new judicial officers to adopt active case management practices and take responsibility for the pace and progress of cases under their supervision.

She also directed the registrar of the magistrates’ courts and the chief registrar of the judiciary to develop a self-evaluation tool and institutional performance framework to enable judicial officers to monitor productivity and improve case management.

Similarly, the CJ underlined the judiciary’s commitment to a strict ‘no adjournment’ policy aimed at preventing unnecessary delays in court proceedings. She encouraged judicial officers to manage court schedules effectively, maintain punctuality and deliver rulings and judgments within statutory timelines.

On judicial conduct, she urged the new officers to uphold the highest standards of ethical behaviour by adhering to the judiciary’s code of conduct and ethics. In addition, the CJ reminded them that judicial independence requires decisions to be guided solely by the law and the evidence presented in court.

Reaffirming the judiciary’s firm stance against corruption, CJ Koome asserted that both the judiciary and the judicial service commission – JSC, maintain a policy of zero tolerance toward unethical conduct hence urged judicial officers to uphold integrity and professionalism throughout their careers.

“As ambassadors of the judiciary’s transformation agenda, you represent the foremost point of contact between the justice system and the ordinary citizen. Your work will play a vital role in transforming lives and strengthening access to justice for all Kenyans,” she pronounced.

Meanwhile, the swearing-in ceremony is part of an induction programme organised by the Kenya Judiciary Academy and the office of the registrar of magistrates, which will equip the newly appointed judicial officers with the knowledge, skills and competencies required to effectively discharge their duties.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Michael Omondi