Chief Justice David Maraga has officially launched the e-filing system, paving the way for cases to be filed at the Courts electronically. The system will allow litigants to pay and serve court papers digitally, and law firms, lawyers, even prosecutors will be able to file cases wherever they are, at home or in their offices, with payment also going digital. The files are then submitted to the registry for the matter to be fled before hearing, in a move that’s aimed at improving efficiency and faster handling of cases. Part of the system is also an automated fee assessment and payment module which utilizes various platforms like the M-Pesa and credit cards, with a digital receipt handed in return. This is set to minimize pilferage of court fees.
Speaking on Wednesday on some of the benefits during the launch at the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Maraga said the e-filing system will enhance the integrity of court files, noting that the Judiciary has in the past experienced the challenge of documents and files being misplaced and sometimes hidden, “Sometimes the files don’t get lost, malicious acts by some of our staff in collusion with outsiders who don’t want the cases to go on mean they just take a file from its bundle and put it in a wrong bundle,” he said.
He said the system will also help in authentication of court orders, citing an example where prison authorities have always delayed the release of accused persons in order to ensure the Court orders are real, “You find sometimes someone has been released and it takes 2 or 3 days for him to be set free from prison.”
Maraga said the system will also be integrated with majority of the stakeholders, including the prisons department and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. He said given that the DPP can file charge sheets digitally, from the comfort of his office, it will save the public in terms of time. The Judiciary is also seeking to integrate the Ministry of Lands in the system, “Title deeds that are given as security for bond or bail, we need to make sure they are authentic.”
He said a case tracking system is also in place in some Courts already, and this will allow messages to be updated through SMS, and clients can prompt updates by sending an SMS with a case tracking number. Moreover, a digital court recording and transcription system has also been set up in 32 courtrooms countrywide, bringing an end to manual recording of court proceedings. Recorded proceedings will be passed over to transcribers who will in turn prepare official court records in text form. CJ Maraga said this will provide a platform for jobs for the youth, through the Ajira Program. Some of those present during the function included DPP Nordin Haji, EACC boss Twalib Mbarak, LSK boss Nelson Havi among others.