NAIROBI, Kenya – The Judiciary has intensified its push for digitisation by expanding the E-Filing System, a move officials say will transform access to justice and ease the perennial backlog in Kenyan courts.
The online platform, part of the broader Judiciary Case Tracking System (CTS), allows litigants, lawyers, and institutions to file cases electronically, pay fees, and monitor progress without physically visiting court registries.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has repeatedly championed digitisation as key to building a more efficient judiciary.
“Our vision is a Judiciary that is accessible, transparent, and efficient. Technology provides the bridge to faster service delivery and reduced human interference in case management,” she said during a recent launch event.
The system was first rolled out in Nairobi in 2020 but has now expanded nationwide, covering all High Courts, subordinate courts, and specialized tribunals. Users register on the Judiciary portal, upload case documents, and make electronic payments via integrated channels such as mobile money and bank transfers.
According to Judiciary ICT director Lilian Wambui, uptake has surged in the past year.
“We currently process thousands of filings daily. Lawyers no longer need to queue at registries, and parties can track their cases from anywhere,” she noted.
The E-Filing system promises faster processing of documents, fewer delays, and reduced corruption opportunities. By digitising records, it also improves transparency and accountability, ensuring that case files are secure and accessible to authorised users.
However, challenges remain. Lawyers in rural counties complain of poor internet connectivity, while some litigants—particularly those representing themselves—struggle with digital literacy. Critics also argue that the system still requires periodic in-person appearances, limiting its full potential.
The push for E-Filing is part of a broader Judiciary Transformation Agenda that includes virtual hearings, electronic case tracking, and integration with government agencies such as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Judiciary spokesperson Anne Amadi said integration is already underway.
“We are building linkages with investigative and prosecutorial bodies so that files can move electronically from police to prosecutors and to the courts. This will save time and resources,” she explained.
Kenya’s courts are grappling with more than 600,000 pending cases, some of which have been in the system for years. Judicial officers believe digitisation could significantly reduce these numbers by cutting administrative delays and allowing judges to prioritise urgent matters more effectively.
For litigants such as small business owners, the changes are already proving useful.
“I filed a commercial dispute online and received my case number the same day. Before, this would have taken weeks,” said Nairobi-based trader Samuel Githinji.
As the Judiciary scales up the system, it has pledged to offer training to lawyers, litigants, and court staff, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital shift.
For Kenya’s justice sector, the success of E-Filing could mark a decisive step toward a future where courts are not only halls of justice but also hubs of technological innovation.
