Judiciary Begs President Ruto To Build New Supreme Court Building
On Monday, Kenya’s Judicial Service Commission asked President William Ruto to prioritise allocating government resources to the construction of a new Supreme Court building, noting that it will improve service delivery.
Winfrida Mokaya, Registrar of the Judiciary, has urged President Ruto to prioritise construction projects.
She was speaking in Nairobi as part of the celebrations commemorating the 12th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Kenya.
“Your Excellency, as discussed this morning, your attention was drawn to the need for a modern Supreme Court building, a space that would foster judicial discourse and provide an optimal working environment for our judges,” Mokaya stated.
According to the Judiciary, a design competition was already underway to solicit the best design concepts from architectural creatives.
“We are currently in the process of a design competition for a modern Supreme Court building with contemporary design and functionality required for its important judicial role,” Mokaya added.
Over the past decade, the Judiciary has received only 50% of its necessary funding, which has adversely affected its operations. Supporting the Judiciary as a public good is crucial, as it plays a vital role in protecting individual rights, promoting economic stability, and… pic.twitter.com/9OhvzgZaa7
— The Judiciary Kenya (@Kenyajudiciary) November 4, 2024
The Registrar of the Judiciary revealed that the Supreme Court buildings had outlived their functionality after over 93 years.
According to the Registrar, this has prevented court users from accessing modern functional facilities that meet current requirements.
“The building is nearly a century old and its architecture does not serve the present needs of the Supreme Court. It is internal design is far from being functionally adequate,” Mokaya implored.
“The building as it is does not embody the gravitas of the role of the Supreme Court as envisaged in the Constitution.”
“Your Excellency you also noted this morning as you walked in that from the plate at the entrance of this building, the building was put up in 1930, that is 80 years ago before our new constitution,” she added.
However, the Judiciary stated that the idea for a new Supreme Court building did not stem from influences from other branches of government that have continued to receive modernized facilities, but rather from a desire to evolve with time and improve its functionality.
On April 25, this year, President Ruto inaugurated the Ksh9.6 billion Bunge Towers, which house modern offices for Members of Parliament.
The project was first proposed in 2009, with the tower initially costing taxpayers Ksh5.89 billion, but the cost was increased by Ksh3.71 billion.
Official documents released by the Treasury in May this year indicated that the State House had been allocated an additional Ksh26 million for renovations to the President’s official residence in Nairobi.
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This increased the budgetary allocation for the renovation project from Ksh795.4 million to Ksh821.4 million.
Meanwhile, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that plans and discussions were underway to allocate a parcel of land next to City Hall to the Judiciary for the construction of modern Supreme Court buildings.
“Your Excellency I know we have discussed our favorite topic which is the land over the year, the Nairobi County land that will soon host the Supreme Court building,” Sakaja revealed.
“For us to have a legacy, after consultations, we will all be proud for the land, to host the Supreme Court buildings.”
Judiciary Begs President Ruto To Build New Supreme Court Building
