Public participation forum on the 2026/27 Judiciary budget held in Makadara, Nairobi on December 1, 2025/HANDOUTThe final forum, held at Jericho Social Hall in Makadara, Nairobi, was led by Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Winfridah Mokaya, who underscored that public participation is both a constitutional obligation and a valuable partnership between the institution and the citizens whose authority it exercises.
Mokaya told participants that judicial authority, being delegated by the people, carries an inherent responsibility to demonstrate transparency and accountability.
“Judicial authority is delegated by the people, and with that delegation comes an unqualified obligation to account for how resources entrusted to us are deployed. We therefore appear before you as stewards of a public trust ready to present our performance for the last financial year and the investment proposals for the year ahead,” she said.
A core part of her presentation centred on security, which she described as the foundation of judicial independence.
She warned that many courts still operate in unsafe or inadequate environments, hindering the ability of judges, magistrates, staff, litigants, children, survivors of crime, and the general public to fully and safely participate in the justice process.
Mokaya also drew attention to the persistent congestion in Nairobi courts, noting that the capital handles almost a quarter of the country’s total caseload.
With a resident population of 5.4 million and an additional 2.5 million commuters entering the city daily, she noted that the pressure on courts remains immense, stretching across traffic matters, commercial litigation, constitutional petitions, family disputes, children’s cases, and criminal trials.
To address the strains, the Judiciary has prioritised completion of several new court buildings, including those in Kasarani, Mihango, and Huruma.
It is also accelerating investment in specialised courts such as the Small Claims, Anti-Corruption, Gender Justice, and Children’s courts, which have seen rising demand.
For the 2026/27 financial year, the Judiciary has proposed a budget of Sh46 billion—equivalent to 0.7 per cent of the national budget.
However, the indicative allocation stands at Sh29 billion, leaving a funding gap of Sh17 billion.
According to Mokaya, this shortfall threatens critical components of justice delivery, including deployment of judicial officers, digitisation, expansion of court infrastructure, and efficient handling of sensitive cases, particularly those involving children.
She reiterated the institution’s commitment to deepening digital transformation.
Priority areas include expansion of the e-filing system, automation of registries, strengthening of the Case Tracking System (CTS), and investment in mobile courts, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and the Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) framework.
“Our proposals are geared toward building a future-ready justice system,” Mokaya said, adding that sufficient funding would translate into faster case resolution, reduced backlogs, enhanced security, and improved protection for vulnerable court users.
Finance Directors from the Judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission presented performance highlights and budget proposals.
Deputy Chief Registrar Paul Ndemo, Registrars, and Directors were also present to respond to public queries.
The Makadara forum brought together representatives from the County Commissioner’s office, County Assembly, Law Society of Kenya, ODPP, Probation, National Police Service, Prisons, persons with disabilities, religious organisations, and children from a borstal institution.
The hearings, also conducted in Lodwar, Ol Kalou, Migori, and Chuka, marked the conclusion of the Judiciary’s nationwide public budget consultation process for the upcoming financial year.
Public participation forum on the 2026/27 Judiciary budget held in Makadara, Nairobi/HANDOUT
Chief Registrar of Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya addresses stakeholders and the public forum in Makadara, Nairobi/HANDOUT
Public participation forum on the 2026/27 Judiciary budget held in Makadara, Nairobi/HANDOUT
Public participation forum on the 2026/27 Judiciary budget held in Makadara, Nairobi/HANDOUT
Public participation forum on the 2026/27 Judiciary budget held in Makadara, Nairobi/HANDOUT
