Justice Musinga commits to Court of Appeal reforms after Nelson Havi raises concerns

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Musinga. /JUDICIARY

The President of the Court of Appeal has pledged to implement key reforms to expedite the determination of appeals and urgent applications.

Justice Daniel Musinga made the commitment in response to concerns raised by lawyer Nelson Havi regarding delays and administrative challenges in the appellate court.

In a detailed letter addressed to Havi, Justice Musinga acknowledged the overwhelming backlog facing the Court of Appeal, particularly at the Nairobi station, which currently handles an average of 50 appeals and urgent applications per week.

With just two or three benches available, Musinga described the situation as “rather overwhelming,” expressing concern over the lengthy periods cases remain pending.

As a remedy, Justice Musinga announced that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is set to employ 15 additional judges, a move he believes will significantly enhance the court’s efficiency and reduce the turnaround time for appeals and applications.

He also revealed that the ongoing review of the Court of Appeal Rules, combined with increased judicial capacity, will greatly improve the delivery of justice.

"I will also take steps to streamline administrative drawbacks that you have highlighted, including, but not limited to, automation of date fixing process, to ensure efficiency and fairness," Justice Musinga said.

Further, Justice Musinga said he would be meeting with the leadership of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), senior practitioners, and other court users on September 12 to discuss further interventions aimed at enhancing service delivery in the next term.

The Judge appreciated compliments about the public confidence enjoyed by the court and assured that he would do his utmost to maintain that trust.

He set ambitious targets to have all urgent applications determined within 60 days and all appeals concluded within one year, goals he believes are achievable with the addition of new judges and the implementation of proposed reforms.

"That will be possible when the court gets more Judges and implements the various measures that you have proposed, and others that are in the pipeline," Justice Musinga wrote.

He concluded by thanking Havi for his candid and sincere views, reaffirming his commitment to upholding the integrity and efficiency of the Court of Appeal.

The development signals a renewed effort to tackle case backlogs and administrative bottlenecks, offering hope for faster and more efficient justice for Kenyans.

Reacting to the letter on X, Havi praised Justice Musinga’s leadership, stating, “Another public officer who understands the magnitude of his responsibilities. We are proud of him.”