- The judiciary is working on a policy to guide AI use in courts.
- Plan covers case management, legal research, and admin work.
- ICT desks set up to help elderly, poor, and digitally illiterate court users.
- Focus on data privacy, independence, and cyber protection.
- Ethiopia delegation visits for ICT knowledge exchange.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has revealed that the Judiciary is developing an Artificial Intelligence Adoption Policy Framework to help integrate AI into court processes. She says the plan will boost case handling, legal research, predictive analytics, and routine administrative work while ensuring judicial independence, data privacy, and fairness remain protected.
Koome stressed that the Judiciary’s digital shift must be inclusive. ICT help desks have been set up in Huduma Centres and at court stations to assist users, especially the elderly, low-income citizens, and those not skilled in technology.
The CJ noted that one hurdle has been interoperability between justice agencies. However, the Judiciary has already linked systems with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and plans to connect with police, prisons, probation services, and the children’s department.
Koome acknowledged that cybersecurity is expensive but critical. The Judiciary is putting in place strong protection measures to guard against hacking and other digital threats.
A delegation from Ethiopia’s Federal Supreme Court, led by Vice President Abeba Embiale Mengste, visited Nairobi to learn about Kenya’s digital court systems. Justice Isaac Lenaola, chair of the Judiciary’s ICMS Committee, said Kenya is ready to support Ethiopia’s goal of going fully digital by 2026.
