The Chief Justice of Kenya held a meeting with other judiciary leaders to discuss recent criticisms of the judiciary. The leaders concluded that while the judiciary must remain independent, it also must be accountable, efficient, and transparent. They pledged to be more responsive to constructive criticism. They acknowledged corruption as a major issue and outlined steps taken to expedite the 94 pending corruption cases, such as adding more magistrates and case management training. The leaders agreed to improve communication with the public and media regarding case progress and address issues hampering prosecution of corruption cases through inter-agency collaboration.

1. REPUBLIC OF KENYA
THE JUDICIARY
COMMUNIQUE FROM THE MEETING OF THE HONOURABLE
CHIEF JUSTICE DAVID MARAGA WITH THE JUDICIARY
LEADERS
We thank you for honouring us with your presence this afternoon.
Today, the Honourable Chief Justice held a meeting with the Judiciary Leaders
comprising:
President of the Court of Appeal; Principal Judge of the High Court; Principal
Judge of the Employment and Labour Relations Court; Presiding Judge of the
Environment and Land Courts and all Presiding Judges of Superior Courts
countrywide.
The meeting centered on recent criticisms against the Judiciary including the
current perception that the Judiciary is the weakest link in the fight against
corruption; backlog of cases; case management issues and other issues the
Judiciary is facing. It was largely an introspection and stock-taking meeting.
As a collegiate, the Judiciary leaders reached the following conclusions which
they wish to bring to the attention of the public:
1. While the Judiciary appreciates that it is independent and must remain so
for the rule of law to be observed and individual liberties enshrined in the
Constitution respected, the Judiciary also appreciates that the principle of
judicial independence also calls for judicial accountability. The
Constitution calls for the Judiciary to be accountable, efficient, effective
and transparent in the administration of justice. This is a work in
progress and the Judiciary invites continued scrutiny and constructive
criticisms aimed at improving its functioning. The Judiciary leaders

2. pledge to continue being responsive to constructive critiques and
amenable to constructive engagement with other arms of government and
stakeholders while remaining robustly independent.
2. As Kenyans, the Judiciary Leaders acknowledged that corruption is a
cancer in our society. The Judiciary is committed to playing its rightful
role in the fight against corruption within the ambit of the law.
3. The Judiciary leaders took note of the statistics on anti-corruption cases
filed in our courts as follows:
 Between July, 2017 and December, 2018, a total of 91 corruption
cases were determined. Out of these, there were 46 convictions.
 As of today, there are 94 pending corruption cases.
The Judiciary Leaders recommended specific measures to concluding
these pending cases in the most expeditious manner without
compromising the rights of Accused Persons. The Judiciary has already
taken the following steps to fast-track these cases:
a. 10 more magistrates have been added to the Anti-corruption Court
with specific mandate to finish all the pending cases;
b. The Chief Justice has given written mandate to all the magistrates
in the anti-corruption court to sit beyond normal court hours in
order to fast-track the cases.
c. The Judiciary Leaders discussed and recommended active case
management techniques which will be deployed to fast-track these
cases.
d. All magistrates in anti-corruption court will undergo sensitization
and training in Active Case Management techniques.
4. The Judiciary will also take stock of all cases involving infrastructural
projects with a view to fast-tracking them.
5. As part of the Judiciary’s responsibility to be accountable, the Judiciary
Leaders pledged to keep the public and stakeholders informed of progress
in all matters involving public interest litigation including anti-corruption
cases and cases involving major infrastructural projects. The Judiciary
Leaders noted that Kenyans generally rely on what is reported in the

3. media yet many times the information reported in the media is inaccurate.
The Judiciary will engage with the media to give access to the correct
information so that the media can report accurately on matters being
handled by our courts. The Judiciary Leaders also recommended that the
Directorate of Public Affairs be revamped to be more responsive in
providing accurate and timely information on cases all matters in the
administration of justice.
6. The Judiciary Leaders noted that the Honourable Chief Justice has
convened an NCAJ meeting next week. The Judiciary Leaders
recommended that the Honourable Chief Justice so that the Justice sector
as a collective can address the issues hampering the prosecution of anti-
corruption cases. The issues include the provision of witness statements
(which often run into thousands of pages for anti-corruption cases); and
failure to avail witnesses; failure to avail expert witnesses and their
reports. The Judiciary appreciates that the war against corruption can
only be won through inter-agency collaboration of all actors within the
justice sector.
7. The Judiciary Leaders acknowledged that Article 157 of the Constitution
places the role of investigation and prosecution on the Office of the
Director of Public Prosecutions. The Constitution stipulates that the DPP
cannot be directed by any individual including the Courts in playing that
role. The Courts are committed to respecting that role and, absent
exceptional circumstances, the Courts will not interfere with the
discretion of the DPP. Courts only intervene in exceptional cases where
prosecutorial abuse is demonstrated.