Judiciary pushes for more funds amidst calls for accountability

Judiciary pushes for more funds amidst calls for accountability

Parliament Building
Thursday, 17th July 2025

The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Hon. Winfridah Mokaya, appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights to present the State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice Report (SOJAR) for the 2023/2024 fiscal year.

In her presentation, Mokaya highlighted the Judiciary’s achievements despite financial hurdles. "We have successfully expanded the High Court’s presence to 46 of 47 counties and resolved 509,664 cases, achieving a remarkable 99% case clearance rate," she told the committee chaired by Bomet Senator Wakili Hilary Sigei.

However, Mokaya painted a stark picture of the financial constraints facing the institution. "The Judiciary received only Ksh 22.42 billion against our required Ksh 43.17 billion, resulting in a devastating 48% deficit," she said, urging that the Judiciary's budget be increased to 3% of the national budget to bridge the gap.

Senator Okiya Omtatah responded sharply to the request for more funding. “The Chief Registrar must show financial prudence on what has already been disbursed, seal all avenues of wastage, and stop corruption within the Judiciary before asking for more money,” he said. “Kenyan taxpayers deserve accountability.”

Senator Veronica Maina lauded the Judiciary for attaining gender parity in its workforce. “This is a significant milestone and a reflection of our commitment to inclusivity and equity in the justice sector,” she remarked.

Senator Wakili Hilary Sigei raised concerns about the state of the judiciary in Homabay County and questioned efforts to address children’s issues like defilement, early pregnancy, early marriage, gender-based violence, and FGM in Bomet and Narok counties. “The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics paints a very bad picture of the situation in these counties. What is the Judiciary doing to protect our children and women?” he asked.

The session underscored the Judiciary’s operational achievements amid severe budget limitations, with Mokaya’s responses shedding light on how funding gaps continue to hinder effective justice delivery across the country.