Justice Matheka calls for increased funding to strengthen Kenya’s child justice system
She urged the National Treasury and county governments to significantly increase funding for child protection services, including the judicial infrastructure required to administer child-friendly justice.
Justice Teresia Matheka, the chairperson of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Standing Committee on the Administration of and Access to Justice for Children, has called for increased funding to improve Kenya’s child justice system, warning that insufficient resources are undermining efforts to deliver justice for children.
Speaking at Mathare Special Training Centre in Nairobi to mark the start of Kenya’s annual Child Justice Service Month, Justice Matheka highlighted critical gaps in the system.
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She noted that while the Judiciary has allocated resources to establish Children’s Courts, these remain insufficient. Many court stations lack adequate physical infrastructure, trained personnel are in short supply, and the technology needed for effective case tracking and information sharing across agencies is largely absent.
“As someone charged with overseeing the administration of justice in our courts, I must acknowledge that this failure is also a failure of judicial oversight,” Justice Matheka said.
She urged the National Treasury and county governments to significantly increase funding for child protection services, including the judicial infrastructure required to administer child-friendly justice.
"We need to strengthen our multi-agency approach to dealing with children matters and to also increase the budget for dealing with children matters," she said.
“Without urgent investment, many children risk being denied the protections and rehabilitative support guaranteed under child protection laws."
Justice Matheka emphasised that Section 22 of the Children Act, 2022, which governs the presumption and determination of a child’s age, is a key safeguard.
It ensures that children are treated appropriately under the law rather than as adult offenders. She stressed that assessing the circumstances surrounding children who come into conflict with the law is essential for effective rehabilitation and reintegration.
The month-long initiative, themed “Securing Justice for Every Child”, focuses on combating child abuse and promoting child-friendly justice. Justice Matheka underlined that achieving these goals requires strong collaboration among all stakeholders and the inclusion of children’s voices in decisions that affect them.
“This is about understanding children, addressing the circumstances that lead them into conflict with the law, and ensuring they receive fair and rehabilitative treatment,” she said. “It is only by pooling resources and working together that we can truly secure justice for every child.”
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