Silverio Omari
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Winfridah Mokaya, emphasized the need for increased funding for the Children’s Justice System in the country. This is essential for addressing challenges affecting children and supporting childcare and welfare programs.
She highlighted this during the launch of the National Council on Administration of Justice (NCAJ) National Strategy on Justice for Children (2023-2028) on Thursday. Mokaya pointed out that recognizing the need for increased budgetary allocation for children in the justice system is crucial for implementing the strategy. Without adequate financial resources, efforts to create child-friendly facilities, train justice actors, and enhance the capacity to respond to children’s needs will remain unfulfilled.
Mokaya stated that the launch of the National Strategy is a significant milestone, representing a commitment to a brighter future for every child. She quoted Nelson Mandela, saying, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children,” urging Kenya to protect and cherish its young.
The Strategy aims to address systemic and multifaceted issues that children face, including abuse, neglect, and exploitation, which are not only individual tragedies but also societal failures hindering the nation’s progress. Mokaya assured that the NCAJ will lead coordination efforts, uniting stakeholders across sectors to promote, protect, and improve the administration of justice for children in both formal and informal settings.
“Our vision extends far beyond the justice system. We aim to empower all stakeholders – including children themselves, communities, civil society organizations, and development partners – to contribute to a child-friendly justice sector,” she said. “This partnership is not just instrumental; it is essential. Together, we can enhance our response to violence against children, promote their participation and empowerment, and strengthen collaboration among all involved parties.”
Also present at the launch was the Chairperson of the NCAJ Standing Committee on Justice for Children, Justice Teresia Matheka, who stated that the Strategy represents NCAJ’s commitment to improving the administration and access to justice for children in Kenya. She noted that achieving this would require robust coordination and resources from both the government and development partners.
“Together, we can build a justice system that truly serves and protects our children,” Matheka said.
The objectives of the Strategy include ensuring a coordinated, efficient, effective, and consultative approach to administering justice for children in Kenya. It also aims to empower stakeholders, prevent violence against children, ensure timely response and child participation, and create a well-resourced, child-friendly justice system. Additionally, the Strategy seeks to strengthen coordination by the NCAJ and relevant stakeholders to promote, protect, and improve access to justice for children in both the formal and informal sectors, and to establish a framework for monitoring, evaluation, learning, and budgeting within the child justice system.
Dj Vnyash
