NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya’s Chief Justice, Martha Koome, is making a powerful case for boosting funding for the country’s justice system, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize children’s rights.
Speaking at the 35th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) during the 2024 World Children’s Day celebrations, Koome urged government stakeholders and development partners to collaborate in advancing the welfare of Kenyan children.
“As Chief Justice of Kenya and Chairperson of NCAJ, I commit to working towards promoting, protecting, and fulfilling the rights of children as mandated by the CRC, the Constitution, and the Children Act, 2022,” Koome said.
She also highlighted the necessity of fast-tracking the implementation of the Children Act, 2022, a move critical to creating trauma-informed, child-centered courts that ensure equitable access to justice.
Koome’s appeal is rooted in alarming statistics. Children make up 43pc of Kenya’s population, according to UNICEF, which translates to 23.6 million young lives out of the country’s 55.3 million people as of 2023.
However, a 2021 study by UNICEF and the World Bank paints a grim picture: nearly half of Kenyan youth aged 18–24 endured physical, sexual, or emotional violence during their formative years.
The long-term impacts are harrowing. Violence in schools alone contributes to global lifetime earnings losses of a staggering $11 trillion, underlining the high economic and societal stakes.
Beyond rhetoric, Chief Justice Koome is championing actionable steps. She emphasized the importance of strengthening Children Court User Committees and aligning Kenya’s justice systems with both its constitutional mandates and international obligations under the CRC.
UNICEF Kenya Representative Shaheen Nilofer echoed this sentiment, celebrating Kenya’s early ratification of the CRC in 1990.
“Kenya was one of the first countries in Africa to ratify the CRC, thus committing to fulfilling the rights of every child through its laws, policies, and practices,” Nilofer said.
This milestone underscores Kenya’s potential to lead by example in Africa—but only if collective efforts translate into tangible change.
Increased investment in justice infrastructure and child welfare programs will be essential to achieving these goals.
Chief Justice Koome’s call is more than a plea; it’s a rallying cry for the nation to prioritize its most vulnerable citizens.
As Kenya continues to navigate its developmental path, addressing violence against children and ensuring justice access will be central to building a society that values and protects its future generation.
