CJ Koome reaffirms Judiciary’s commitment to child protection, announces expanded reforms
CJ Martha Koome described the Children Act 2022 as a transformative framework that demands full implementation.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has reaffirmed the Judiciary's commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and welfare of every child who encounters the justice system, saying this duty is firmly anchored in the Constitution, the Children Act 2022, and Kenya's international child protection obligations.
Speaking during the Chief Justice's Dialogue with Children, an event held to commemorate World Children's Day and the Annual Child Justice Service Month, CJ Koome described the Children Act 2022 as a transformative framework that demands full implementation.
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The event brought together children from borstal institutions, remand homes, rehabilitation schools, reception centres, probation hostels and children's homes.
Koome announced that the Judiciary is in the process of establishing dedicated Children's Courts across the country.
These courts will be staffed by judicial officers and personnel trained in child psychology and child-sensitive procedures to ensure a justice process that respects children's unique needs.
She added that the Judiciary will continue strengthening the Office of the Deputy Registrar of the Children's Court and prioritising the resolution of children's cases within the legally mandated six months.
She urged the National Police Service to fully operationalise the Children Protection Units and the Children Police Unit, noting that the manner in which children are handled by law enforcement significantly affects their emotional safety and long-term well-being.
"As justice actors, we must prioritise diversion programmes that steer children away from the formal justice system and towards rehabilitative and restorative pathways," she said.
The Chief Justice stressed that institutionalisation must always be a last resort and, when used, should be for the shortest time possible.
She noted that children placed in institutions should not be viewed as offenders but as young people in need of protection, mentorship, and second chances.
Before committing any child to institutional care, she said, authorities must exhaust all family and community-based alternatives.
Koome highlighted persistent gaps in education, healthcare, psychosocial support, nutrition, and recreational facilities within many child institutions, warning that these shortcomings undermine rehabilitation efforts. She emphasised that every child is entitled to free and compulsory basic education, regardless of their circumstances.
She called for an upgrade of children's institutions to provide decent and child-friendly environments, while strengthening programmes that support mental health, build confidence, and equip young people with life skills for reintegration. She also encouraged courts to activate Children Court User Committees to enhance coordination among justice actors.
Koome further urged the Prisons Department to develop tailored rehabilitation programmes for older adolescents, particularly those at risk of gang involvement, stressing that supportive interventions, not punitive environments, offer real opportunities for transformation.
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