CJ Martha Koome Launches Five Justice Reforms in Kenya

By Kerry Wachira

Chief Justice Martha Koome has launched five landmark justice-sector reform instruments aimed at strengthening coordination among institutions responsible for the administration of justice and improving access to justice for Kenyans.

Koome announced the reforms while presiding over the 38th meeting of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), where she underscored the need for justice institutions to work closely together to deliver fair, timely, efficient and responsive services.

The reforms include the Justice Sector ICT Policy and Action Plan, new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), the People-Centred Justice Guidelines, the People-Centred Justice Study, and Standard Operating Procedures for effective service delivery initiatives.

The digital reforms are expected to enhance information sharing and coordination among justice-sector institutions while reducing delays and dependence on paper-based processes.

The SGBV guidelines seek to strengthen survivor-centred and trauma-informed responses, while addressing gaps that may expose survivors to further distress as they seek justice and support.

Speaking on the importance of collaboration, Koome said:

“The justice system is experienced by the public not as a collection of separate institutions, but as one interconnected justice chain.”

She noted that investigations, prosecutions, court proceedings, legal aid, correctional services, probation and rehabilitation are interconnected, meaning weaknesses in one area can affect public confidence in the entire justice system.

For ordinary Kenyans, the reforms could directly improve how they experience the justice system—from reporting crimes and accessing legal assistance to following up on cases and receiving support as survivors of violence.

The People-Centred Justice framework places citizens at the centre of justice delivery, with a focus on making services more accessible, affordable, inclusive, understandable and responsive to people’s needs.

The NCAJ, established under the Judicial Service Act, brings together key institutions in the justice sector to strengthen coordination while allowing each institution to retain its constitutional and statutory mandate.

Koome stressed that the success of the reforms will depend on effective implementation, noting that justice should not only be delivered in courtrooms but also be felt by people seeking help across the country.