Records management readiness for open government in the Kenyan judiciary

Abstract

This article presents part of the results of a study that was undertaken between April and September 2014 to investigate records management practices in the Kenyan judiciary with a view to promoting transformation and facilitation of open government for effective and efficient justice delivery. The following research questions were addressed: ‘How are records created, accessed and used, stored and maintained, appraised and disposed of, and preserved?’; ‘What records management policies, plans and guidelines are available?’; ‘What skills and competencies do the records management staff have?’; ‘What is the level of awareness and attitude of staff towards sound records management practices?’; and ‘What records management strategies is the Kenyan judiciary using to achieve openness?’ The population of the study comprised court registrars, deputy registrars, records officers, registry assistants, judges and magistrates in the high court and magistrates’ courts in Nairobi and Uasin Gishu counties. The findings of the study revealed that although records management had been improved in the Kenyan judiciary, records were not managed well in a continuum from creation to disposition. Furthermore, there were no records management policies and well trained records officers were inadequate. Besides, though records were recognised as pivotal in the administration of justice, records management was not fully supported by top management. It is recommended that, among other things, records management in the judiciary should be improved by putting in place records management policies; building records management capacity; securing top management support; and using the open government implementation model to promote best practices.