The Kenya Judiciary has formally launched its E-Filing system for courts today in Nairobi which was first announced last month.
Their e-filing system has a number of components, which include case registration, payment, case search, calendar, and service.
“E-filing System provides a platform for law firms, lawyers, and non – lawyers to initiate and complete the process of filing cases online from their offices /remotely. They do not need to visit the court premises to file cases or banking halls to pay court fees,” the Judiciary says.
This system will be used by the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, All High Court Divisions in Nairobi, Environment and Land Court, Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court and Nairobi Employment and Labour Relations Court. Other courts in Nairobi that will use this system include the Milimani Chief Magistrate Court Commercial and Children Court Milimani Nairobi, Makadara, JKIA, Kibera Law Courts as well as City and Kadhi Courts.
Chief Justice, David Maraga said they have plans to quickly roll out this service to other parts of the country beginning with Mombasa and Kisumu.
Chief Justice Maraga also touched on online filing in their new system. “I have heard some people ask whether upon filing their documents online, they will be printed and put in physical files for use when they come to court. The answer is no,” he said.
The Judiciary says they are also implementing a digital court recording and transcription system in 32 courtrooms countrywide. This is already being done in six courtrooms in the commercial division of the high court at Milimani and they are already installing the system in 26 other courts.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) also weighed in during the announcement. “E filing will help increase and achieve higher levels of efficiency,” Director of Public Prosecution, Noordin Haji said. “It will also reduce chances of corruption, enhance transparency and accountability.”
DPP Noordin Haji said the integration will enable .@ODPP_KE file charge sheets, disclose witness statements, documentary evidence & file applications & submissions electronically. He was speaking during launch of @Kenyajudiciary efiling.#3Cs_ODPP pic.twitter.com/8BUlzWuEDn
— ODPP_KE (@ODPP_KE) July 1, 2020
The ODPP said they are the first agency under the criminal justice system to develop and integrate its Case Management and Document Tracking system to the newly launched electronic filing system. The DPP says the integration will enable the ODPP file charge sheets, disclose witness statements, documentary evidence and file applications and submissions electronically. They say that this will facilitate efficient and effective delivery of prosecution services.
The Judiciary was proud to say that the system was designed, developed, and implemented by their very own directorate of ICT.
The Kenyan Court system has undergone a huge change in how they perform their duties in 2020. This year, they implemented the use of email and video chat to deliver pending judgments and rulings due to COVID-19. Today’s announcement of the e-filing system and the subsequent addition of the digital court recording and transcription will make it even more tech-forward than before.
