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Judiciary forges ahead with reforms

, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga says Court Users Committees will become the delivery sites for the transformation agenda that is equitable and expeditious delivery of justice/FILE

, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga says Court Users Committees will become the delivery sites for the transformation agenda that is equitable and expeditious delivery of justice/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 8 – The Judiciary has launched the second phase of its transformation in a bid to establish a common approach in the administration of justice.

In this phase, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga says Court Users Committees will become the delivery sites for the transformation agenda that is equitable and expeditious delivery of justice.

Speaking during the inauguration of the national Court Users Committees Conference (CUCs), Mutunga said that this will ensure praise and blame are shared equally within the Judiciary.

He also said a special working group will be established for resource mobilisation for the committees.

“Flowing from this resource gap, Court Users Committees remain considerably underfunded, with the result that their operation has depended more on the courage, commitment and charisma of their respective leaders and members than on finances allocated to the stations,” he said.

“I applaud each and every one of you for the great innovation you have made in operationalising CUCs and encourage you to persist in the implementation of your existing strategies. But the resource situation must change – and urgently so. We must explain ourselves and what we do better to the Kenyan public and to Parliament.”

The group mandate will be to develop and implement a sector-wide strategy to increase funding to all justice institutions.

“National Council for the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) has received great support from development partners, especially GIZ who have facilitated this gathering. It is clear from the various status reports received by the NCAJ Secretariat that CUCs have also relied on the assistance of numerous other donors and development partners,” he pointed out.

“We thank them for their continued support, even as we urge the Kenyan taxpayer and leadership to bear more the burden of keeping the wheels of justice in motion.”

He said there was need for a common approach in administration of justice.

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“Unfortunately, the need for a common approach to the administration of justice has not been properly understood – not just among those that we serve or even ourselves, but also by those who make decisions on policy and resources,” he lamented.

“Lack of understanding is the only reason why the National Council for the Administration of Justice received 1 cent (a fifth of a ndururu) – a currency no longer in use in Kenya – for every Sh10 the Judiciary was allocated in the Budget.”

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