Justice Nduma Nderi: What I will do when I become CJ

Justice Nduma Mathews Nderi escorted by the registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi arrives at the Supreme Court buildings to be interviewed for the position of the Chief Justice. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Employment and Labour Relations Court judge Justice Nduma Mathews Nderi says he will improve the Judiciary if he becomes Chief Justice.

Justice Nderi told a Judicial Service Commission interviewing panel that once he becomes the Chief Justice, he intended to develop a road map to address career progression and promotions.

“The level of dissatisfaction at career progression in the Judiciary in my view, I believe, I would want to engage that area,” said Justice Nderi.

Justice Nduma added that he would also develop a framework to address dispute resolution in the judiciary.

Further, on the court users, Justice Nderi said that he plans to increase the capacity of the judiciary to minimise the time taken to make a judgment on a case.

This he said would be his master plan in dealing with the problem of backlog of cases.

On the other hand, the judge noted that there was no clear process of recruiting in the Kadhi’s court.

“Lack of a clear structure on how to appoint a Kadhi has led to the violation of some Muslims’ rights which when I am Chief Justice, I will address,” explained Justice Nderi.

Additionally, with the collegial nature of the Supreme Court, Justice Nderi said that once he is Chief Justice, he will create consensus with all the judges and magistrates in the courts to ensure justice is served to the people.

“We should utilize the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to revisit its own decisions as some matters in the lower courts re-occur in the High Court or the Court of Appeal,” noted the legal mind.

Justice Nduma Mathews Nderi being interviewed for the position of Chief Justice at the Supreme Court buildings. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Since independence, the wheels of justice have been turning extremely slowly and it has taken several decades for some court cases to be concluded. Many have died while still waiting for their cases to be determined.

Last year, Former Chief Justice David Maraga launched the Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) Baseline Policy and Associated Policy Framework as a milestone and a new beginning for Kenya in the administration of justice.

While issues such as corruption slow down the justice procedure, several other issues weaken the Judiciary’s efficiency.

They include poor staffing, inadequate infrastructure and funding meaning the Judiciary is not wholly to blame for the sluggish pace of dispensing justice in the corridors of justice.