Chief Justice Martha Koome has asked courts to ensure all pending hate speech cases are heard and determined within the next four months.
Addressing the 9th head of stations meeting in Eldoret, Koome noted that there has been a concern from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over delays in handling hate speech cases.
She said the conclusion of the case will give room for free and fair elections.
“I direct Heads of Stations to identify all pending hate speech cases in your stations and work out modalities with the trial courts to fast-track their resolution. All pending hate speech cases ought to be concluded within 4 months from today,” said CJ Koome.
“Those who sabotage election by inciting violence should be dealt with,” she added.
The Chief Justice also revealed that the Judiciary will soon be gazetting 119 judicial officers for appointment as special magistrates to hear and determine election offense matters, including hate speech.
“Courts prioritizing crimes of hate speech will be set up in select hotspot areas to deal with matters falling under the National Cohesion and Integration Act,” noted the Judiciary boss.
Some of the areas, according to the CJ, include Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru.
The President of the Supreme Court also directed that all matters related to the previous General Election be concluded on/or before 31st July 2022.
And with the general election drawing near, Koome said the Judicial Committee on Elections will be training 361 magistrates that will handle elections disputes.
Training for High Court judges is already ongoing.
Magistrates training will be held in 9 regions, starting March 9.
“We must be prepared to handle all election-related disputes expeditiously and fairly. Pursuant to this, the Judiciary Committee on Elections (JCE) is implementing the Judiciary’s election-preparedness Work-Plan that includes trainings of Judicial officers in collaboration with the Kenya Judiciary Academy (KJA),” CJ Koome noted.
