The Kenyan Judiciary on Thursday, October 30, 2025, launched a nationwide census of all its employees in a strategic move to enhance accountability, strengthen human resource management, and eliminate potential ghost workers from its payroll. The exercise, announced by Chief Justice Martha Koome, will encompass all judicial officers and administrative staff across the country.

In a public statement issued on Thursday morning, EAT, Chief Justice Koome emphasized that the census is a critical component of the Judiciary's ongoing commitment to data-driven decision-making and institutional integrity. "Accurate and reliable data is essential for effective decision-making," Koome stated, linking the initiative directly to the Judiciary's ambitious 'Social Transformation through Access to Justice' (STAJ) blueprint, which prioritizes efficiency, transparency, and fairness.

This comprehensive staff audit is the first since 2018 and is designed to create a verifiable and up-to-date record of all personnel. The primary objectives are to support staff rationalization, optimize the allocation of resources, and ensure that the distribution of personnel aligns with the needs of court stations nationwide. By verifying its workforce, the Judiciary aims to improve talent management, address staff welfare more effectively, and eliminate any duplication of roles.

Context of Public Sector Reforms

The Judiciary's census is not an isolated event but part of a wider trend across Kenya's public sector to enhance transparency and root out corruption. Similar workforce audits have been implemented by the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), as well as several county governments. These exercises have been instrumental in identifying and removing thousands of non-existent or unauthorized "ghost workers" from the public payroll, a persistent issue that drains taxpayer funds.

The move also follows a systems review and audit of the Judiciary's policies and procedures conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in November 2021, which was initiated at the Judiciary's invitation to identify and seal loopholes that could enable corruption. The current census is seen as a direct follow-up to the EACC's recommendations, aiming to build stronger internal controls.

Concerns over the Judiciary's payroll are not unfounded. An Auditor-General's report for the financial year ending June 30, 2024, highlighted significant discrepancies in the Judiciary's reported staff numbers. The report noted a staff increase of 2,316 employees, from 6,014 to 8,330, in one year. However, documented new contracts only accounted for 136 of these positions, leaving a variance of 2,180 staff whose employment status could not be immediately verified, raising red flags about possible ghost workers.

Implications for Justice Delivery in Kenya

For the Kenyan public, the successful implementation of this census could have significant positive impacts on the justice system. By ensuring that its human resources are accurately mapped and efficiently deployed, the Judiciary can better address case backlogs, a chronic challenge for the courts. Proper staff distribution means that high-volume court stations in urban centers and underserved courts in remote areas could receive the personnel they need to operate more effectively, potentially reducing the time it takes for cases to be heard and concluded.

Furthermore, eliminating ghost workers will free up financial resources that can be redirected to critical areas, such as improving court infrastructure, investing in technology to digitize court processes, and enhancing training for judicial officers and staff. This aligns with the broader goals of the STAJ blueprint, which seeks to make justice more accessible and affordable for all Kenyans.

The Judiciary has given assurances that the census has been organized to cause minimal disruption to court services. Coordination teams have been deployed to all court stations to oversee the process, and all registries and administrative offices are expected to function normally throughout the exercise. Chief Justice Koome reiterated the institution's long-term vision of building a modern, transparent, and accountable Judiciary, with this census serving as a foundational step toward sustainable reform and improved governance.