Kenya Administration of Justice Annual Report 2025/26: Judiciary Clears 102% Corruption Cases

• Kenyan courts achieved a 102% clearance rate for corruption-related cases in the 2025/26 financial year, resolving 2,909 cases against 2,852 received.
• The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission recovered Sh3.63 billion in assets and preserved Sh7.3 billion, while instituting 46 civil suits valued at Sh14.1 billion.
• Chief Justice Martha Koome launched the NCAJ Strategic Plan 2026-2030, emphasizing the need for inter-institutional coordination and collective action for justice reforms.
• The new Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, was enacted as part of broader efforts to strengthen accountability and combat corruption.
• The preceding NCAJ strategic plan (2021-2026) recorded an 83.23% implementation score, making progress in areas like alternative dispute resolution and anti-corruption frameworks.

We must transform coordination into collective action and reform commitments into services the public can trust.

Kenyan courts demonstrated remarkable efficiency in addressing corruption-related cases during the 2025/26 financial year, achieving an impressive 102 percent clearance rate. This means that the judiciary successfully resolved more cases than it received within the reporting period, specifically concluding 2,909 cases while 2,852 new ones were filed. This performance indicates a proactive approach to reducing the backlog of corruption matters, as detailed in the recently unveiled Kenya Administration of Justice Annual Report 2025/26.

Beyond judicial clearance, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) also reported substantial progress in asset recovery. The commission successfully recovered assets valued at Sh3.63 billion and secured the preservation of assets worth an additional Sh7.3 billion. These efforts underscore a concerted drive to reclaim public resources lost to corruption. Furthermore, the EACC initiated 46 civil suits, targeting the recovery of approximately Sh14.1 billion, reinforcing the financial consequences for those involved in illicit activities.

The launch of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Strategic Plan 2026-2030 Kenya marks a pivotal moment for justice sector reforms. This five-year blueprint was introduced by Chief Justice Martha Koome in Nairobi, coinciding with the release of the annual report and an end-term review of the preceding 2021-2026 strategic plan. The outgoing plan recorded an overall implementation performance score of 83.23 percent, highlighting achievements in areas such as alternative dispute resolution, the development of an anti-corruption strategic framework, and initiatives promoting environmental sustainability within the justice system.

The new NCAJ strategic plan outlines seven key priorities, including fostering stronger institutional partnerships, implementing reforms in criminal and civil justice delivery, expanding access to justice for vulnerable and underserved communities, and enhancing monitoring and institutional capacity. Complementing these strategic initiatives, the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, was enacted. This new legislation is a crucial component of the broader governmental strategy to strengthen accountability and combat corruption across various sectors.

Chief Justice Martha Koome underscored the critical importance of robust coordination among all justice-sector institutions. Speaking at the launch event, she cautioned that fragmented operations could severely impede the delivery of timely and effective justice. Koome called for enhanced collaboration, information sharing, and the alignment of resources among courts, prosecutors, investigators, and law enforcement agencies, asserting that the administration of justice is a collective responsibility aimed at mitigating delays and bolstering public confidence in the Kenya judiciary performance.

Chief Registrar of the Judiciary and NCAJ Secretary Winfridah Mokaya echoed these sentiments, urging institutions to transcend isolated operations and embrace shared accountability for improved justice delivery. She stressed the necessity of adequate resource mobilization and stronger institutional cooperation, proposing that the true measure of the council's success lies in the tangible difference it makes in the lives of justice seekers. The launch event also inaugurated the November Child Justice Service Month, a dedicated initiative to strengthen coordinated responses for children interacting with the justice system, further exemplifying the commitment to comprehensive justice reforms. As Chief Justice Koome articulated, "We must transform coordination into collective action and reform commitments into services the public can trust."

The reported 102% clearance rate for corruption cases and the launch of the NCAJ Strategic Plan signal a more aggressive and coordinated anti-corruption environment in Kenya. Lawyers and compliance officers should advise clients on heightened enforcement risks, the potential for faster case resolution, and the implications of the new Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, particularly regarding compliance programs and internal investigations. The EACC's significant asset recovery efforts also underscore the financial risks associated with corruption.

Source: Original reporting via Kenyan media