NAIROBI, Kenya — Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Hon. Winfridah Mokaya, has emphasized the strategic importance of judicial associations in East Africa, describing them as vital engines for capacity-building, peer accountability, and regional solidarity.
Speaking at the 22nd East Africa Magistrates and Judges Association (EAMJA) Annual Conference in Nairobi, Mokaya said strengthening these associations is not optional but a critical necessity for a modern, confident, and people-centred justice system.
She noted that these bodies also safeguard pipelines that cultivate the next generation of judicial leaders across the region.
“These associations are not peripheral; they are strategic levers that enhance peer learning, entrench collaboration, strengthen professional standards, and build the jurisprudential coherence our region needs,” she said.
The Chief Registrar highlighted the role of judicial associations as mentorship hubs that shape professional ethos, instill responsibility, and prepare emerging leaders for the complexities of judicial service.
She also stressed that these platforms provide the solidarity and collective strength necessary to defend judicial independence, a cornerstone of constitutionalism and democratic stability.
Mokaya further called for innovation in financing models to ensure these associations remain resilient and future-ready, particularly in a rapidly evolving technological and socio-economic landscape.
She underscored the importance of exploring which justice pathways — formal, digital, community-based, or alternative — deliver the greatest impact and value to citizens.
This year’s EAMJA conference theme, Justice Beyond Brick and Mortar: Unlocking Multi-Door Pathways for People-Centred Justice in East Africa, reflects the ongoing transformation of judicial service delivery, she said.
“Justice, as a public service, is evolving alongside the broader socio-economic landscape. To remain relevant and responsive, we must continuously retool our systems and embed new, effective mechanisms for service delivery,” Mokaya added, urging continued investment in judicial associations as engines of innovation, mentorship, and professional excellence.
