The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has launched a task force to tackle inefficiency and corruption in courts and land registries.
Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome welcomed the initiative, saying it aligned with the Judiciary’s own Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) vision and goes to the very heart of the country’s shared constitutional responsibility to ensure that justice is accessible, expeditious, and corruption-free.
Further, Koome acknowledged registries as central pillars of the country’s courts and land governance structures.
In a speech read on her behalf by Justice Eric Ogola, the CJ said: “There is no room for corruption in our registries. Their effectiveness and integrity directly affect public trust and confidence in Kenya’s justice and land governance system.”
The CJ urged the public not to give bribes and not to facilitate shortcuts, but to demand to be served as required, adding that within courts, efficiency, transparency, integrity, and accountability are critical to the delivery of timely and fair justice.
“For instance, where a registry loses files, delays action, or acts dishonestly, cases can be delayed, which can lead to injustices and erosion of public confidence in our judicial system,” she illustrated.
She reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening the judiciary’s internal integrity mechanisms, including the court integrity committees and vowed to continue working closely with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and other agencies to address complaints of corruption and unethical behaviour.
“I encourage you to make complaints about delays and integrity of the registry and anything that involves the High Court or the magistracies which we supervise through proper court channels and not through social media for effective response,” she urged.
Additionally, Koome asserted that under STAJ, which builds a people-centred justice system, efficient and ethical registries are not just operational necessities, but critical to the transformation that the Judiciary seeks.
According to the CJ, STAJ envisions a judiciary and justice sector that is responsive, accountable, and anchored in the lived realities of the people they serve, adding that efficiency through innovation has made significant strides through digitization, e-filing, and case tracking systems.
“These are not just technological achievements; they are also justice achievements. These achievements have reduced delays and brought transparency into processes that were opaque and frustrating to many court users,” she reiterated, adding that despite the progress, a lot more is expected to enhance efficiency, simplicity, and effectiveness in service delivery through the registries.
Koome invited everyone to renew their commitment to accessible, ethical, and professional service at every point of justice delivery as she demanded that registries must become a symbol of efficiency, integrity, and trust and not a source of delay or frustration.
In his remarks, Justice Ogola highlighted the deep interconnection between the Judiciary and the Law Society, noting that almost all magistrates and judges come from the LSK.
“We must solve these issues together. You, members of the bar, are the very individuals who will be appointed as our next magistrates and judges,” he reiterated, emphasizing unity over blame.
Ogola called for open, rule-free dialogue between the Judiciary and the Bar, noting that answers sometimes come when people speak carelessly without rules and restrictions.
While acknowledging the Judiciary’s operational challenges, including underfunding, he revealed that in the current financial year, the Judiciary received zero budget for ICT.
“We cannot pretend we’re fully digital when we’re still working on physical files,” he stated, lamenting the slow progress of digital transformation.
Ogola also called out regional double standards in legal practice, questioning why the LSK is the only generous child on the block, as he cited how Kenyan advocates face difficulties practicing in neighbouring countries while foreign lawyers enjoy free reign in Kenya.
Further, Justice Ogola urged the LSK to adopt and champion the ‘Ogola Rules for Safe Custody’, alluding to preventable deaths in police cells such as the recent case of Albert Ochieng.
In her address, LSK President Faith Odhiambo declared the task force as long overdue and framed it as a clarion call to accountability and reform.
“This is not just another committee. It is a bold step to restore dignity and discipline in a system we depend on,” she asserted.
Odhiambo cited countless complaints from advocates and litigants about vanishing files, broken e-filing systems, and unethical conduct.
“Justice delayed is, and I dare say, justice compromised by unethical conduct and therefore justice corrupted,” she quoted.
Odhiambo was especially critical of the disconnect between promised digital services and the lived experiences of users.
“When you file online and the court tells you they can’t see it, whose problem is it?” she questioned, calling out the hybrid digital-manual mess in court operations.
She also criticized unethical behaviour among court and registry staff, insisting that every delayed file, every bribe, every tampered record is a citizen’s fading hope.
She at the same time urged advocates to also uphold high ethical standards, saying, “As we fight to clean up the system, we must clean our own house. We too must be honest, punctual, and ethical. The integrity of the legal profession is not separate from the justice system. it is the same.”
Bringing a pragmatic perspective, Senior Counsel Wilfred Nderitu, the alternate chair of the task force, emphasized the need for evidence-based reforms and accountability in implementation.
“There are challenges, yes, but also tremendous opportunities. This task force must go beyond rhetoric. It must produce actionable solutions,” stressed Nderitu.
Nderitu expressed concern over backlogs and questioned whether speed had come at the expense of justice.
“We need to measure the quality of decisions, not just the quantity,” he noted.
He also spoke about inefficiencies in land registries that lead to fraud and false claims, contributing to court backlogs.
“If registries functioned as they should, many land disputes wouldn’t even reach the courts,” he observed.
The Chair encouraged the legal community to overcome its inertia, pointing out that resistance to digitization isn’t just about corruption but simply an unwillingness to change.
Nderitu urged all stakeholders to rally behind the task force, stating, “Let us look back one day and say we made real progress—towards a more efficient, ethical system.”
Meanwhile, as the country battles rising cases of extrajudicial killings, registry fraud, and systemic delays, the formation of the LSK Efficiency and Ethics Taskforce could not have come at a more critical time.
The task force will produce monthly reports and engage stakeholders from judiciary staff to litigants, with a mandate to audit both digital and physical processes and recommend real-time, practical reforms.
By Fride Amiani and Daniel Kamau
