Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has received a response from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) regarding his concerns about judges in Eldoret skipping work to participate in sports. However, Havi found the response unsatisfactory and lacking in clarity.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, March 24, Havi expressed his frustration, stating that the Judiciary’s explanation was not convincing and that the manner in which the response was communicated was also disappointing.
“The Judiciary has responded, but their explanation is not acceptable. First, the complaint was forwarded by Advocates in Eldoret, who were concerned about the matter,” Havi stated.
“Second, a workday should not be used for sports. If judges and magistrates wish to exercise, they should join a gym and work out in the morning or evening.”
Havi had formally written to the Judiciary Chief Registrar, Winfrida B Mokaya, and Chief Justice Martha Koome on Wednesday, March 19, raising concerns over the planned absence of Environment and Lands Court (ELC) judges.
He described their decision to skip work for sports as an act of gross misconduct that should not be tolerated within the Judiciary.
However, in its response on Monday, the JSC defended the event, stating that it was part of a structured initiative under the Judiciary’s ten-year Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) Blueprint.
According to the Judiciary, this initiative is designed to enhance the well-being and efficiency of judicial officers by fostering teamwork, motivation, and overall job satisfaction.
The response explained that the Judiciary aims to attract and retain top talent while improving the skills and morale of its workforce to ensure they remain dedicated to providing high-quality service.
Chief Registrar Mokaya further stated that the Judiciary prioritizes wellness and work-life balance, which is why a sports day was scheduled for March 20.
“In the case of Eldoret, the notice to scale down operations during the wellness activity on March 20, 2025, was approved by the Court Users Committee.
The leadership of the Court also took adequate measures to ensure that service delivery was not disrupted,” part of the response read.
Mokaya also clarified that both ELC judges in Eldoret had case lists scheduled for the day and that no hearings were postponed due to the sports activity.
Over the past few months, Nelson Havi has been vocal about what he describes as growing concerns over judges being absent from important court sessions without proper justification or prior communication.
The situation in Eldoret particularly infuriated him, as the judges had openly indicated that they would be participating in sports instead of attending to their judicial duties.
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