Kenyan CJ hails Arusha Courts for digital, paperless procedures

MARC NKWAME in Arusha

KENYA’S Chief Justice David Maraga

KENYA’S Chief Justice (CJ) has completed his familiarisation tour of the African Court for Human and People’s Rights and the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) in Arusha City with a thumbs up that they are doing well.

The Chief Justice, David Maranga, who was recently received in the institutions by the President of the Court Justice Sylvain Orě said he was happy to learn and know how the Regional Court was becoming modern with new technologies, calling it a “digital and paperless Court.”

He said the technology advancement at the EACJ will increase efficiency in the judiciary and render timely justice to the people and reduce pileup of cases. Being led by the EACJ President Justice Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, the CJ also took time to study how they manage their cases and record them in a system, saying he appreciated the modern technology at work there.

He hinted how the Judiciary system in Kenya was also trying to introduce the same system, but has not fully measured to the one he came across in Arusha. “Kenya should borrow a leaf and experience from the EACJ, and I hope they will be able to introduce the similar system with time,” he added.

On his part, the EACJ President, Justice Ugirashebuja expressed gratitude to CJ Maranga for accepting the invitation to come and share ideas with them, and commended him for being the first Chief Justice in the region to visit the Court.

During the familiarisation tour, Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, Judge of the Appellate Division who heads the EACJ Information Technology Committee, presented a detailed report on how they established and operate the case management and recording system (CMRS) at the EACJ.

He also shed some light on the “National Court,” that is the Court of Appeal of the Republic of Uganda where he also serves as a Judge. The judge pointed out that CMRS has a pivotal role to play in running fast business in the Court.

He further said the case management and recording system through electronic filing system has a unique way to address common mistakes of litigants’ files which at times have been seen as “missing” in the Registries.

Judge Kiryabwire said for that matter, it promotes transparency and safely keeps record of files. He equally said the system supports recording and transcription of proceedings and thereby replaces handwriting practice which is time consuming and increases paper work.

“The system improves good public perception of the Court and it is cost effective, because it cuts costs of transporting pleadings from partner States. For that matter, it is a user-friendly system and easy to understand and navigate,” Justice Kiryabwire further added.

However, he pointed out that the EACJ’s system has not been made open to lawyers because some modalities are still being put in place in it, adding that: “Although electronic filing can be carried in the Court sub-registries in the Member States.”