Ahmednasir claims judges sit just 54 days a year as Judiciary faces fresh scrutiny

Jukwaa

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His remarks come barely two weeks after the Judiciary announced it had reduced its case backlog by 27 per cent and two days before lawyers stage a nationwide boycott over delays and alleged inefficiencies.

Ahmednasir, in a commentary on Monday, argued that judicial recesses, annual leave, official travel and other commitments significantly limit the number of days judges spend hearing cases.

“The average judge of the High Court and the Court of Appeal sit in court a mere 54 days a year,” he wrote.

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He questioned the impact of increasing the number of judges without expanding court sitting days.

“With judges working just 54 days a year, do you now understand the second biggest challenge facing the courts after JurisPESA?” the Senior Counsel wrote, using a term he has coined to refer to alleged judicial corruption.

Ahmednasir also claimed Supreme Court judges sit between 25 and 28 days annually, while the Chief Justice sits in court for fewer than 15 days each year.

His remarks stand in sharp contrast to the Judiciary’s latest performance report released on July 3, in which Chief Justice Martha Koome announced that the institution had achieved a 104 per cent case clearance rate during the 2024/25 financial year, meaning it resolved more cases than were filed while reducing the national case backlog by 27 per cent.

Speaking during the launch of the Judiciary’s Performance Management and Measurement Understanding (PMMU) Evaluation Report, Koome said the results reflected the impact of ongoing reforms aimed at improving the administration of justice.

“In practical terms, the Judiciary resolved more cases than it received during the reporting period,” she said, adding that the reduction in backlog had translated into improved access to justice for Kenyans.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya

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