By Dorothy Musyoka
In a progressive move to enhance the welfare of its employees, the Judicial Service Staff Superannuation Scheme training team, under the leadership of Hon. Lady Justice Jessie Lesiit, conducted a vital sensitization session for the Machakos Law Courts fraternity.
The focus of this session was the introduction of a post-retirement medical scheme within the existing pension framework, an initiative poised to significantly impact the lives of judicial staff upon their retirement.
According to Hon. Lady Justice Jessie Lesiit, there is an importance of securing a dignified and healthy retirement for all judicial staff.
“Our goal is to provide a seamless transition into retirement with the assurance that medical needs will be met,” she stated.
The scheme aims to integrate smoothly with the existing pension arrangements, offering retirees a holistic package that addresses both financial and health security.
Similarly, in a concerted effort to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the judicial process, newly appointed judges participated in an intensive induction workshop organized by the Kenya Judiciary Academy (KJA), the Office of the Principal Judge, and the Office of the Registrar High Court.
The workshop focused on familiarizing the new judges with advanced Judiciary ICT solutions, including the Case Tracking System (CTS) and Virtual Court.
In March 2024, Chief Justice Martha Koome launched an e-filling system in all courts nationwide.
Speaking during the launch of e-filling an event that was held at the Supreme Court of Kenya the chief justice highlighted the importance of enhancing judicial services through digitization,
“This marks a giant leap in our commitment to transforming how we deliver justice through the strategic use of technology in alignment with the Social Transformation through Access to Justice Blueprint of the Judiciary,” said CJ Koome.
Elsewhere, Mandera Law Courts, under the dynamic leadership of Hon. Peter Wasike and in collaboration with the Court Users Committee, recently hosted an open day under the theme “Enhancing Access to Justice Through Stakeholder Engagement.”
This significant event was designed to bridge the gap between the judiciary and the public, providing a platform for community education and involvement.
Members of the public were educated on court processes, including the implementation of e-filing. Additionally, they were urged to claim uncollected deposits exceeding Sh1.6 million held at the Mandera Law Courts.
“Members of the public were informed about court processes, including e-filing. The public is urged to collect unclaimed deposits of over Sh1.6 million held at Mandera Law Courts,” stated the Judiciary.
Hon. Peter Wasike advocated for the adoption of Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) by stakeholders while advising against its application in cases of sexual offences.
The Judiciary fosters social and political stability and promotes national socio-economic development through its process and decisions.