CJ Koome calls for speedy appellate justice

Chief Justice Martha Koome, called for speedydelivery of appellate justice and a renewed focus on eliminating case backlog while emphasizing the central role of the Court of Appeal within Kenya’s constitutional architecture. Speaking during the installation of Justice Gatembu Kairu as the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Justice noted that as the country’s principal appellate court and the final judicial forum in most disputes, the Court safeguards consistency in the interpretation of the law, promotes legal certainty and strengthens public confidence in the administration of justice.

She highlighted the Court’s remarkable institutional growth over the past five years, including the expansion of permanent Court of Appeal stations from four to eight across the country, bringing appellate services closer to citizens. She said the Court has attained its largest complement of Judges in history, growing from 13 Judges in 2021 to 41 following the appointment of 15 additional Judges earlier this year.

While acknowledging significant improvements in case resolution, the Chief Justice Koome observed that the Court continues to carry a substantial backlog of pending appeals. She stressed that every unresolved appeal represents Kenyans waiting for certainty, closure and justice, making backlog reduction an urgent institutional priority.

The Chief Justice noted that the expanded judicial capacity presents an unprecedented opportunity to transform appellate justice. Guided by the Judiciary’s Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) blueprint, she challenged the Court to work towards hearing and determining appeals, as far as possible, within one year of filing.

“Timely justice is both a constitutional obligation and a prerequisite for public confidence, economic growth and the rule of law,” she said, adding that the Judiciary expects the Court of Appeal to translate increased judicial capacity into faster case resolution, improved service delivery and sustained institutional excellence.

Chief Justice Koome further called on the Court to consistently achieve a Case Clearance Rate above 100 per cent while strengthening the quality, consistency and influence of its jurisprudence. She cited the performance of Court of Appeal stations in Mombasa, Kisumu and Malindi as evidence that exceeding annual case inflows and systematically reducing backlog is both realistic and achievable.

Reaffirming the Judiciary’s commitment to shared leadership, the Chief Justice urged all Judges, Judicial Officers and members of staff to embrace innovation, accountability and continuous improvement. She encouraged the Court to deepen the use of technology through paperless operations, electronic filing and virtual hearings, while expanding mediation and Alternative Justice Systems to enhance access to timely, efficient and people-centred justice.

Describing the occasion of assumption of office as a significant constitutional milestone, the Chief Justice congratulated Justice Gatembu on his election by fellow Judges of the Court of Appeal, stating that the election reflected their confidence in his integrity, leadership, professional competence and sound judgment. She expressed confidence that he would provide visionary leadership while consolidating the institutional gains achieved by the Court over the years.

Chief Justice Koome also paid tribute to the immediate former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Musinga, for his exemplary leadership during the past five years. She commended his contribution to strengthening appellate jurisprudence, expanding the Court’s geographical reach, improving institutional performance and advancing access to justice through collaborative leadership.

Welcoming Justice Gatembu to the Judiciary Leadership Team, Chief Justice Koome assured him of the Judiciary’s full support as he assumes office. She expressed confidence that under his stewardship, the Court of Appeal will build on its achievements, accelerate the reduction of backlog and further strengthen its standing as a court distinguished by judicial excellence, innovation and unwavering service to the people of Kenya.

In his inaugural address as President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Gatembu Kairu pledged to lead the Court with transparency, inclusivity and unwavering fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law. Acknowledging the Court’s pivotal role as the final judicial forum in over 90 per cent of cases, Justice Gatembu emphasized that the Court’s decisions shape Kenya’s constitutional, commercial, electoral, criminal and civil jurisprudence, making judicial excellence, consistency and public confidence central to its mandate.

Justice Gatembu identified the reduction of case backlog and the timely determination of appeals as his foremost priorities, noting that thousands of pending appeals continue to delay justice for Kenyans, particularly in Nairobi. He committed to implementing targeted case management strategies, strengthening institutional collaboration, leveraging technology, enhancing judicial research and promoting consistent jurisprudence in line with the Judiciary’s Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) blueprint.

Reaffirming his commitment to shared leadership, stakeholder engagement and institutional independence, he pledged to build a resilient, efficient and people-centredCourt of Appeal that delivers accessible, expeditious and accountable justice to all Kenyans. He paid tribute to his predecessors, particularly immediate former President Justice Daniel Musinga, for expanding the Court’s reach, strengthening digitization, increasing judicial capacity and improving access to justice