Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome has formally unveiled the Mahakama Popote Guidelines, a standardised framework aimed toward enhancing digital case dealing with in Kenya’s Magistrates’, Kadhis’, and Small Claims Courts.
The tips had been launched on June 24, 2025, throughout the twelfth Annual Heads of Station Forum held in Makueni County.
The Mahakama Popote programme will leverage know-how to permit judicial officers to listen to and decide circumstances whatever the bodily location the place the matter was filed.
“This innovation removes geographical obstacles and promotes flexibility, effectivity, and well timed entry to justice,” CJ Koome famous.
CJ Koome explains on the Mahakama Popote digital courtroom information
Through this method, judicial officers in courts with lighter workloads can help stations with heavy caseloads, selling environment friendly use of sources and well timed justice supply.
“Through digital courts and e-filing, officers in stations with decrease caseloads can help stations with increased caseloads with out the necessity for bodily journey,” mentioned CJ Koome.
“By overcoming geographical constraints, Mahakama Popote promotes effectivity, flexibility, and well timed entry to justice,” she added.
According to the Chief Justice, the system has proven a major impression since its inception in October 2022.
Impacts of the Mahakama Popote
As of March 2025, a complete of 17,389 circumstances had been referred by the Mahakama Popote platform, out of which 12,940 had been concluded and 4,449 remained pending.
“These numbers present the transformative potential of this innovation,” CJ Koome remarked.
She famous that the programme aligns with the Judiciary’s broader imaginative and prescient underneath the Social Transformation by Access to Justice (STAJ) blueprint.
The newly launched tips are meant to offer a transparent, constant, and accountable framework for managing circumstances nearly.
CJ Koome reiterated the Judiciary’s dedication to maximising the usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to boost justice entry and general service supply.
She additionally reminded Heads of Station of their crucial position in making certain the success of the digital system by supervising environment friendly and responsive registry operations.
The use of the Mahakama Popote Virtual Court Guide inspired
The Chief Justice famous that for a lot of courtroom customers, the registry is the face of the Judiciary, and the way it operates can form public confidence.
“A poorly managed registry, the place recordsdata are misplaced or delayed, or the place service is sluggish or opaque, erodes confidence within the justice system,” she warned.
“Let each station replicate the ethos of judicial excellence from our courtrooms to our registries,” Chief Justice Martha Koome suggested.
CJ Koome recommended judicial officers for his or her resilience within the face of challenges, noting that some had gone past regular working hours to deal with pressing bail, bond, and habeas corpus functions.
She assured the general public that the Judiciary would stay agency in its mandate to uphold the rule of regulation, particularly throughout occasions of democratic and political pressure.
“Our judges and judicial officers will stay steadfast of their position as stewards of justice, resolving disputes impartially, upholding constitutional values, and making use of the regulation pretty, with out concern, favour, bias, or sick will,” she concluded.
