Renowned Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has called on the judiciary to provide concrete timelines for the handling of appeals following the recent release of the Court of Appeal benches.
Taking to X, Abdullahi described the development as “excellent” but urged Chief Justice Martha Koome and Court of Appeal President Musinga JA to publicly commit to specific performance benchmarks.
He outlined five key demands aimed at improving the efficiency and fairness of the appellate system.
Among his requests, Abdullahi emphasized the need for the court to clear existing backlogs within 18 months, and for fresh appeals to be heard and determined within 12 months.
He further insisted that judgments on appeals be delivered within 90 days, while rulings on applications should be issued within 45 days.
Abdullahi also highlighted the importance of putting special procedures in place to prevent the Court of Appeal from becoming what he described as a “JurisPESA court,” a reference to concerns over perceived inefficiencies and practices inherited from lower courts.
He additionally raised concerns about regional representation, noting that while the Court of Appeal now operates in seven provinces, North Eastern Kenya remains excluded.
Abdullahi stressed that citizens in the region deserve equal treatment, reminding the judiciary of the constitutional principle that all branches of government should treat all Kenyans equally.
The senior counsel’s statement reflects growing public calls for judicial accountability and transparency, especially in a system often criticized for delays and inefficiency.