[kictanet] CheChe Live - ICTs driving Judicial Reforms

[Edith Adera]

Listers,

For those who watched CheChe live this morning will agree with me that the discussions on Judicial reforms was very refreshing! (and informative). Gladys Boss Shollei did a great job in fielding questions from the trio.

What struck me is the central role ICTs will play in the reforms - the Judicial Transformation Framework (Plan) will be launched tomorrow (we should be able to see the place of ICTs in this document).

What was equally exciting was the extent of citizen engagement using ICTs tools with the judiciary have launched a short code, email link and online submission of pending cases to help them analyze and deal with years of backlog! They are also currently piloting the payment of fines by mpesa to be rolled out soon (I think someone on this list suggested this...it is happening).

While this is exciting, many questions still linger - do we have the legislative framework that recognizes digital records as admissible evidence in court? (what became of the FOI and data protection bills?). what steps could be taken to ensure international standards/framework for records management is followed in this process to avoid digitizing inefficiencies? I'm sure there is a host of other questions.

Listers will recall sometime back we had a week long discussion on these issues on this list based on research work done in the region, Kenya included (see attached reports as a reminder). One of the themes discussed on this list was "Electronic Records and Citizens' Access to Justice".

Very vibrant discussions happened with good suggestions emerging on what should be taken into account - Grace/Alice, was the discussion report shared? Can we have a copy. I think the judiciary should get a copy of the recommendations from this list on this theme "Electronic Records and Citizens' Access to Justice".

May be this is an opportune time to engage with the judiciary as they wholly embrace ICTs to ensure that some of the issues raised in that report by listers is taken into consideration as they reform.

CheChe should continue with this high-level type of debate (avoiding too much politics!) so Kenyans can engage with real issues that affect them and hold our leaders to account. I wish the CheChe debate could continue in some form online after the hour slot (much like THE STREAM on Al Jazeera) even if not moderated by the trio. Think about it Makali and co.

I like the parting shot of the show when Gladys was asked by a Kenyan if she aspires to be the Next President! That should send a big signal to 2012 aspirants that Kenyans are looking for performers this time round!

Edith
________________
Edith Ofwona Adera
Senior Program Specialist
Climate Change and Water Program
Agriculture and Environment
International Development Research Centre
Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa
Liason House 2nd floor, State House Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya
+254-20-2713160/1 | Fax: +254-20-2711063 | Mobile:  +254-733-624345
eadera at idrc.ca | www.idrc.ca | www.crdi.ca

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