Supreme Court Judge and Director-General of the Kenya Judiciary Academy (KJA), Justice Smokin Wanjala, has called for inclusive digital justice, warning that technology could leave vulnerable groups behind if not carefully implemented.
Speaking at a training for Judges of the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) on Digital and ICT Accessibility, he stressed that digital tools must promote fairness, equality, and human dignity.
In a speech read on his behalf by Duncan Okello, Deputy Director KJA, Justice Wanjala highlighted that while technology can be a powerful enabler of justice, it can also become a “new gatekeeper to access and equity” if not properly designed.
He cautioned that persons with disabilities, litigants with limited digital literacy, and economically vulnerable court users risk being excluded if ICT accessibility is not prioritized.
“As we embrace these innovations, we must remain vigilant to a fundamental question: who is able to access justice in this digital environment, and who is left behind?” Justice Wanjala said. “Digital transformation is not an end in itself; it is a means of advancing the constitutional promise of justice that is expeditious, efficient, lawful, reasonable, and procedurally fair.”
Justice Wanjala noted that digital technologies have transformed court processes, from e-filing and virtual hearings to electronic records and online legal research.
He emphasized that the ELRC plays a critical role in protecting workers, trade unions, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups, making accessible and user-centered digital court processes central to the Court’s mandate.
“This workshop is not merely technical,” he added. “It is an opportunity for judicial reflection and leadership. Judges influence court practice, shape jurisprudence, and foster a culture that places human dignity, equality, and inclusion at the center of digital innovation.”
Speaking at the opening, ELRC Presiding Judge Justice Byram Ongaya described the Court as “fundamentally a Court of Social Justice” and highlighted the importance of introducing judges to artificial intelligence tools within the justice system.
The training, organized by the UK Digital Access Programme (UK DAP) in collaboration with the Judiciary, brought together stakeholders in the justice sector to address gaps in providing universally accessible digital services to all Kenyans, including persons with disabilities and senior citizens.
