Currently, just a few countries implement virtual court hearings. However, it is gradually being picked up, allowing the public to attend many court hearings at the same time. 

Kenyan courts will be connected to the Google-funded National Optic Fibre Network Backhaul Initiative (NOFBI) by October 2022. The project was launched by Chief Justice Martha Koome last Friday, July 15. Overall, 300 courtrooms in 67 court stations can broadcast live. 

“It is in appreciation of the transformative impact that this project will have on access to justice and performance of the judiciary, that I on behalf of the judiciary, extend our sincere gratitude to Google for thinking about access to justice and performance of the Judiciary as a key outcome area that Kenyan Government should target.[...] The e-courts will benefit from reliable, faster, and stable internet access that has been a challenge to the dispensation of justice through the virtual courts.[...]This project is going to solve the challenge that has stood in our way from fully realizing the full potential of virtual courts, mainly reliability, speed, and stability of the internet, ” said Martha Koome (photo).

The project aims to improve access to justice for Kenyans. It is part of Kenya's program to automate and digitize the justice system by leveraging technology as a catalyst for efficiency in the justice delivery system. It is also part of a Connectivity support program funded to the tune of Ksh500 million (US$4.2 million) by Google. In the framework of the program, apart from the 67 courts, six hospitals and eleven technical and vocational training institutions will be connected to network infrastructures across Kenya. 

Samira Njoya