By Dorothy Musyoka
In a landmark move towards integrating environmental sustainability into the judicial landscape, the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) has launched the ‘Strategic Guiding Framework for Greening Kenya’s Justice System.’
This initiative marks a significant step forward, bringing together agencies and stakeholders from across the justice sector to embark on a transformative journey aimed at greening the justice system.
According to Chief Justice Martha Koome the justice sector acknowledges its critical role in taking adaptation and mitigation measures to counter these adverse impacts.
“Through this Guiding Framework, the justice sector is sending out a message that the quest for justice is intertwined and inseparable from environmental sustainability,” noted CJ Koome.
The NCAJ emphasized that every decision made, every policy implemented, and every case adjudicated has the potential to shape Kenya’s environmental landscape for future generations.
“We are acknowledging that the justice sector has a role in taking adaptation and mitigation measures to counter the adverse impacts of climate change,” Koome added.
However the NCAJ among other agencies and stakeholders affirmed their commitment to safeguarding the principles of green justice are upheld in the legal system.
“Going forward, the agencies and stakeholders in the Kenyan justice sector have made a commitment to take into account the fact that every decision we make, every policy we implement, and every case we adjudicate has the potential to shape Kenya’s environmental landscape,” stated the Chief Justice.
Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, on her part stressed the importance of providing legal aid to vulnerable and marginalized groups to promote environmental sustainability.
She emphasized the need for legal services to offer environmentally responsible advice and ensure that business practices align with ecological sustainability.
Mohamed Amin, Director of Criminal Investigations, highlighted the significance of green policing, which encompasses investigations, arrests, crime prevention, and surveillance of protected and crime-prone areas.
He noted the necessity of raising awareness among law enforcement officers about compliance with environmental management policies and regulations, underscoring the commitment of the National Police Service to enhance education on these issues.
This principles include upscaling green investigations and arrests, enhancing green prosecution practices, institutionalizing environmental safeguards in court resolutions, and greening sentencing practices and correctional services.
Moreover, the NCAJ is dedicated to promoting green legal empowerment and ensuring that a human rights approach is embedded in each element of this greening initiative.
The launch of this framework reflects Kenya’s commitment to pioneering green justice reforms and sets a precedent for other nations seeking to align their justice systems with the urgent need for environmental protection and sustainability.