The Judiciary has obtained 23 new vehicles to help with its transportation needs. These vehicles include six V6 GXR Land Cruisers, 16 TXL Prados, and one Toyota Hilux Double cabin.
The Land Cruisers will be used by Supreme Court justices, while 11 of the Prados will be given to 11 new judges of the High Court. The remaining five Prados will replace old station wagons used by select judges.
According to the Judiciary’s permanent secretary, Pius Bigirimana, these vehicles will assist judges in addressing transportation challenges, especially when they need to visit various locations.
Under the Administration of Judiciary Act of 2020, judicial officers are entitled to retirement benefits, including salaries, chauffeur-driven vehicles, and housing based on their ranks. To meet these needs, the Judiciary’s budget has been increased.
Bigirimana stated that the budget for the Judiciary would rise from sh381 billion to sh392.5 billion, with allocations for wages, non-wages, and development. Part of this budget will go towards the construction and renovation of courts, purchasing 65 vehicles for judicial officers, and improving technology use to reduce case backlog.
Additionally, plans include providing online legal research databases, promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and ensuring alternative power sources. Solar power systems will be installed in 10 magistrates’ courts to address the issue of unreliable power supply hindering video conferencing for court proceedings.
Furthermore, there’s a need for sh1.6 billion to armor five vehicles for judicial officers due to security concerns, as these vehicles have been assessed by security personnel.
