Technology in the Courts: Administration of Criminal Justice in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Mombasa County

Abstract

There has been a marked increase in technological innovations globally which has played a great role in the justice system. The Kenyan courts have been undergoing a gradual digital transformation in their dispensation of justice. This study focuses on the role of technology in the administration of criminal justice in Mombasa courts in context of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the justice system and the courts had to respond by transitioning from traditional face-to-face to online court proceedings. The pandemic pushed Kenya’s justice system into the 21st century and accelerated digitization because until then, it was very low tech. To answer the research questions, this study carried out both field and desk research. The study interrogated the effect of COVID-19 in the courts, the technology that is currently being used, the challenges faced with the use of technology and the reasons for a slow uptake of technology. The study revealed that the courts are already embracing the use of technology in their dispensation of justice, but there exists greater potential for enhanced utilisation of technology. This study discusses the challenges experienced by court users and the bottlenecks impacting the use of technology in courts. It concludes with recommendations towards enhanced uptake of technology in courts