Judiciary under fire as Ombudsman demands action on 700 unresolved complaints
The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), also known as the Office of the Ombudsman, has raised the alarm over a severe backlog of complaints against the judiciary, urging immediate action to restore public confidence in Kenya’s judicial system.
According to CAJ Chairperson Charles Dulo, out of the 700 complaints filed against judicial officers in the past five years, nearly 60 percent remain unresolved. This growing pile-up of cases, which include serious allegations of fraud, bribery, abuse of power, and doctored court proceedings, has fueled concerns about transparency and accountability within the judiciary.
The commission is now demanding urgent intervention from Chief Justice Martha Koome, requesting a comprehensive status report on these complaints within 21 days. The Office of the Ombudsman also wants the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to fast-track investigations and publicly disclose the outcomes to assure Kenyans that justice is being served.
Among the most alarming cases is a magistrate accused of fraudulently accessing funds from the judiciary’s deposit account. Despite the initiation of removal proceedings in 2019, the magistrate remains in service nearly six years later. Other complaints involve judicial officers accused of manipulating court proceedings, soliciting bribes, and delaying judgments actions that have left many Kenyans stranded in their pursuit of justice.
“The prolonged delays in resolving these complaints undermine the integrity of our judicial system. The public must have confidence that those entrusted with justice uphold the highest standards of ethics and accountability,” Dulo emphasized.
With 398 cases still pending, the pressure is mounting on the JSC to act swiftly and decisively. The Ombudsman’s call for immediate action underscores growing frustration among Kenyans, many of whom feel let down by a system meant to serve them.
As the 21-day deadline approaches, all eyes are now on the judiciary’s response. Will the JSC rise to the occasion and restore faith in the justice system, or will these complaints continue gathering dust, deepening the crisis of confidence in Kenya’s courts?
