The Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning has committed to improving the administrative efficiency of the Kenyan Judiciary by addressing the challenges of budgetary funding within the sector.

Treasury Principal Secretary (PS) Chris Kiptoo shared the resolution after meeting with Judicial Service Commission members, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Kiptoo, who was accompanied by CS John Mbadi, noted that the forum discussed ways of strengthening the operations and service delivery of the arm of government tasked with dispensing justice.

“This morning, I joined the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury, Hon. John Mbadi, at a meeting with the Judicial Service Commission, chaired by Chief Justice Martha Koome, to discuss budgetary challenges affecting the Judiciary and ways to strengthen its operations and service delivery,” he said.

Funding gaps

Kiptoo further shared that the two entities had agreed to hold future meetings to review the progress of the agreed-upon resolutions.

“We agreed to work collaboratively and meet periodically to address funding gaps, support recruitment to ease human resource shortages, including the ongoing recruitment of judges, with a view to improving administrative efficiency across the Judiciary,” he added.

Speaking on Monday, December 1, 2025, Mokaya highlighted the need to ease the burden on the urban courts, warning that the courts could collapse under the sheer number of caseloads.

The judiciary stated that with a resident population of 5.4 million and 2.5 million daily commuters, the city ranked as the most demanding justice corridor.

Congestion and budget shortfall

“Nairobi remains our most demanding justice corridor, handling nearly a quarter of Kenya’s total caseload. With a resident population of about 5.4 million — and an additional 2.5 million daily commuters — the pressures on its courts are unprecedented,” part of her statement read.

According to the registrar, the challenges faced in Nairobi were indicative of the wider situation across the county that needed urgent attention.

In the financial year 2026/27, the Judiciary proposed a budget of Ksh46 billion, an equivalent of 0.7% of the national budget. However, the indicative allocation of Ksh29 billion left it with a shortfall of Ksh17 billion.

The meeting was attended by Attorney General Dorcas Agik and Isaac Ruto, the representative of the public on the JSC board.