In a groundbreaking move, Chief Justice Martha Koome has committed the Kenyan judiciary to a path of environmental sustainability by launching the Strategic Guiding Framework for Greening Kenya’s Justice System.
Speaking at the launch of the Strategic Guiding Framework for Greening Kenya’s Justice System, CJ Koome highlighted the inseparable link between justice and environmental sustainability.
She called for the justice sector to set an example for other sectors by integrating green practices into its operations.
“This Strategic Guiding Framework represents our renewed commitment to embedding environmental sustainability within the functioning of our justice institutions,” CJ Koome stated.
She acknowledged that the justice system has not always been fully aware of the environmental impact of its operations, but she emphasized that the new framework signals a shift towards more sustainable practices.
The Chief Justice stressed the importance of reorienting judicial practices to ensure a livable planet for future generations.
She noted that the justice sector, including agencies within the National Council on Administration of Justice (NCAJ), must take the lead in promoting environmental sustainability by implementing green investigations, enhancing green prosecution, and incorporating environmental safeguards in legal processes.
Furthermore, CJ Koome announced plans to conduct civil and criminal justice reforms that support environmental sustainability.
She emphasized that these reforms would extend to the grassroots level, where Court Users Committees (CUCs) will play a vital role in bringing environmentally conscious practices closer to the communities they serve.
“At the grassroots level, we will upscale greening interventions through Court Users Committees (CUCs), bringing environmentally conscious practices closer to the communities we serve”, said Justice Koome.
The framework also calls for targeted efforts to improve access to justice for vulnerable groups disproportionately affected by climate change, including children, women, survivors of gender-based violence, and youth.
Others who addressed the forum are Hon. Aden Duale CS Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Mr. Renson Mulele Ingonga, Vice Chairperson of the NCAJ & Director of Public Prosecutions and PS Correctional Services Salome Beacco among others.
