The National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) has launched a bold five-year plan aimed at cutting court delays and making justice more accessible for all Kenyans. The initiative, unveiled during the 35th NCAJ council meeting in Mombasa on Tuesday, signals a shift from routine evaluations to a forward-looking strategy for 2026–2030.
The meeting, chaired by Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga on behalf of Chief Justice Martha Koome, brought together leaders from across the justice sector to tackle long-standing challenges.
These include heavy case backlogs, outdated paper-based processes, and obstacles that have historically prevented many citizens from seeking legal remedies.
“We are not gathered merely to take stock of routine performance,” Ingonga told the delegates, noting that the public’s patience with delays has worn thin.
“We are called upon to reflect honestly on our progress, interrogate areas where we have underperformed, draw lessons from implementation challenges and, more importantly, to chart a clear and forward-looking trajectory for our Strategic Plan 2026–2030. This process demands candour, collective ownership and institutional courage from each of us.”
At the heart of the new strategy is a “people-centred justice” approach, which focuses on ensuring that citizens feel the benefits of reforms in practical ways rather than only reading about them in policy papers.
Ingonga stressed that unresolved delays not only damage public trust but also weaken the authority of the justice system, noting that efficiency is a constitutional obligation under Article 159, which mandates that justice must not be delayed.
“The public ultimately judges us not by the policies we draft, but by the speed, fairness and accessibility of justice delivered,” he said.
While significant progress has been made—such as expanding Court Users Committees, introducing e-filing systems, and digitising legal repositories—the justice system still faces infrastructure limitations and slow case resolutions, particularly in criminal matters.
The council emphasised that digital transformation is essential for the future of justice. “We must systematically address the causes of adjournments, strengthen prosecutorial and investigative readiness,” Ingonga said.
“We should also leverage Artificial Intelligence responsibly and invest in interoperable digital systems across policing, prosecution, adjudication, corrections and probation services. Digital transformation is not optional; it is foundational to the justice system of the future.”
To tackle case backlogs, the NCAJ is shifting its focus toward restorative, people-centred justice. This approach prioritises repairing harm, rehabilitating offenders, and reintegrating them into the community rather than relying solely on punishment.
By emphasising non-custodial sentences—such as probation, community service orders, and diversion programmes—the system seeks to reduce prison overcrowding while addressing root causes of crime like poverty, trauma, or substance abuse.
This strategy marks a clear move away from punitive measures and towards a justice system that balances accountability with rehabilitation, ensuring that all Kenyans can access timely, fair, and effective legal remedies.
