Chief Justice Martha Koome joined regional Chief Justices for the opening ceremony of the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices’ (SEACJF) Annual Conference in Zanzibar, attended by the President of Zanzibar, H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi.

The conference themed “Transforming Justice Delivery: Innovation, Efficiency and Court Administration Reform.”

Speaking at the conference, CJ Koome called on African Judiciaries and governments to strengthen the relationship between justice systems and the people they serve, even in the face of resource constraints.

She said this could be achieved through institutional reforms, technology, effective case management and prudent use of available resources.

"Financial independence of Judiciaries means the capacity to determine resource needs, receive allocated funds in a timely and predictable manner, manage them according to judicial priorities, and remain free from improper influence while accounting responsibly for public resources,” she said.

Sharing Kenya’s experience, CJ Koome said the people-centred justice model prioritises citizens’ justice needs over physical infrastructure.

She highlighted initiatives including the e-filing system, virtual courts, the Case Tracking System, Mahakama Popote and multi-door pathways to justice, which have helped make justice more accessible, timely and cost-effective.