Kenya Endorses PLEAD II Year IV Work Plan to Deepen Justice Sector Reforms

By Pangpang Kisemei

Kenya has approved the Year IV Annual Work Plan for the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery (PLEAD II), paving the way for continued reforms aimed at improving access to justice, strengthening accountability and accelerating the digital transformation of the justice sector.

The work plan was endorsed during a meeting of the PLEAD II Project Steering Committee chaired by Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court, Martha Koome. The meeting brought together senior government officials, Judiciary leaders, development partners, civil society organisations, and representatives of the European Union and the United Nations to review progress made under the programme and set priorities for the next phase.

Chief Justice Koome said the discussions reaffirmed the commitment of all stakeholders to advancing reforms across the justice sector.

“The discussions reaffirmed our shared commitment to institutionalising reforms that improve access to justice, strengthen integrity, accelerate digital transformation, expand alternatives to imprisonment, protect vulnerable groups, and enhance accountability across the justice sector,” she said.

Among those who attended the meeting were European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger, Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Boyani Mokaya, representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), members of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), civil society organisations including TUNU, and other development partners supporting justice sector reforms.

According to the Judiciary, the Year IV work plan will guide the implementation of activities aimed at strengthening justice institutions, improving service delivery and expanding access to justice, particularly for vulnerable and underserved communities. It also seeks to promote alternatives to imprisonment, enhance integrity within justice institutions and increase the use of technology in the administration of justice.

Chief Justice Koome said the next phase of PLEAD II would focus on ensuring the reforms become firmly rooted within national institutions to guarantee their long-term sustainability.

“As we move into the next phase of PLEAD II, our collective responsibility is to ensure that these reforms become embedded in our institutions, sustained through national ownership, and reflected in the daily experiences of every Kenyan seeking justice,” she said.

PLEAD II is a key justice sector reform programme implemented through collaboration between the Government of Kenya, the European Union, the United Nations and other development partners. It aims to strengthen the rule of law, improve the efficiency of justice delivery and expand access to legal services for all Kenyans.

The programme has placed particular emphasis on improving accountability and public confidence in the justice system while addressing barriers that have historically limited access to justice for women, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.