CJ Koome tasks new magistrates with clearing case backlog
By Faith Lagat, March 6, 2026Chief Justice Martha Koome has urged newly sworn-in resident magistrates to play a key role in reducing Kenya’s case backlog by upholding efficiency, integrity, and professionalism in the administration of justice.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of 99 newly recruited resident magistrates on Friday March 6, 2026, Koome reminded the officers that their role requires a lifelong commitment to justice, public service, and ethical conduct.
The new magistrates will also serve as adjudicators in the Small Claims Courts.
She urged the officers to embrace values such as civility, collegiality, intellectual curiosity, impartiality, and independence as they begin their work on the bench.
Focus on clearing case backlog
Koome called on the new judicial officers to support the Judiciary’s reform agenda under the Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) blueprint, which seeks to transform court stations into centres of excellence.
She called on the newly appointed officers to actively support ongoing efforts to eliminate case backlog and reduce delays in the justice system.
“In line with these efforts, the Judiciary has set a target of ensuring that no case remains in a magistrate’s court for more than three years, while cases filed in small claims courts should be resolved within sixty days.
“Notably, Magistrates’ Courts recently achieved a Case Clearance Rate of 104 per cent, the first time the rate has exceeded 100 per cent since the Judiciary began tracking the metric indicating progress in reducing longstanding case backlogs,” Koome stated.
Koome also congratulated the new appointees for succeeding in a competitive recruitment process conducted by the Judicial Service Commission, where more than 1,700 advocates applied for about 100 available positions.
“Your appointment reflects confidence and trust placed in you by the nation to serve as custodians of justice and guardians of the rule of law,” she said.
Magistrates’ courts key to justice system
The Chief Justice emphasised the central role played by magistrates’ courts and small claims courts in the justice system, noting that they are often the first point of contact between the judiciary and the public.
Many litigants who appear before these courts do so without legal representation, making their experience with magistrates a defining moment in their interaction with the justice system.
“The public’s perception of the Judiciary is often formed through these encounters,” Koome said, urging the officers to ensure professionalism, fairness, and efficiency in their proceedings.
She said improving service delivery at these courts is critical to building trust in the justice system and expanding access to justice for ordinary citizens.