DNK International By Judiciary Media,Zanzibar.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has called for greater financial independence of African judiciaries to strengthen justice delivery and protect courts from improper influence.
Speaking at the opening of the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices’ Forum (SEACJF) Annual Conference in Zanzibar on Monday which was attended by Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, CJ Koome said judiciaries and governments must strengthen their relationship with the people they serve despite resource constraints.
The conference is themed “Transforming Justice Delivery: Innovation, Efficiency and Court Administration Reform.”
Koome said institutional reforms, technology, effective case management and prudent use of resources can help courts deliver accessible and timely justice.
She defined financial independence as the ability of judiciaries to determine their resource needs, receive allocated funds in a timely and predictable manner, manage resources according to judicial priorities and remain free from improper influence while remaining accountable for public funds.
Sharing Kenya’s experience, Koome said the people-centred justice model prioritises citizens’ justice needs over physical infrastructure.
She highlighted Kenya’s e-filing system, virtual courts, Case Tracking System, Mahakama Popote and multi-door pathways to justice as initiatives that have expanded access to justice while making court services more timely and cost-effective.
[Daily News Kenya-International@October 5,2026]
