MP Kaluma calls for adequate resourcing of judiciary

Homa Bay Town MP George Kaluma now wants the government to fully resource and equip the judiciary.

This, Kaluma said, will make the judiciary independent and that its role does not end with making court rulings only.

"More importantly that the judiciary as an institution should be well-resourced and financially independent," Kaluma tweeted.

The lawmaker faulted the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for allegedly interfering with the JSC officer's remuneration.

"The attempts by idle SRC to interfere with necessary facilities of judicial officers like car grant, per diem, violate judicial independence," he said.

He, therefore, called on legislators to enact laws that will protect the judicial service.

"The time has come for Parliament to enact the Retirement Benefits law for judicial officers even as the law is amended to allow for the appointment of more Judicial Officers," he added.

According to the 2023 Draft Budget Policy Statement, the Judiciary budget for the next fiscal year has been capped at Sh20.1 billion.

The judicial arm of the government says the amount is just half of its requirement of Sh43 billion to conduct its operations effectively.

The Chief Justice Martha Koome-led entity says it would be comfortable with Sh35.8 billion for recurrent expenses while Sh7.3 billion is required to fund development projects.

Among the mega projects lined up for the next fiscal year include a new Supreme Court building and the completion of works at the new Court of Appeal complex.

In the current fiscal year, the Judiciary was allocated Sh18.9 billion, which was an increment of Sh1 billion compared to the Sh17.9 billion of the previous year.