The Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Martha Koome, has urged judges to foster more collaborations with the Judiciary Training Institutes (JTI) across the devolved units to build stronger judicial capacities and create a tapestry of knowledge and experience.

This, she said, will help equip judges and judicial officers with the tools and knowledge to tackle Transnational Organized Crimes head-on.

Delegates and judges in attendance during the Africa Regional Judicial Dialogue on Transnational Organized Crimes and Illicit Financial Flows held at a Mombasa hotel. Photos by Cyzick Sidayi

Speaking during the Africa Regional Judicial Dialogue, Koome said that the JTIs should be at the forefront of research and development in the realm of Transnational Organized Crimes jurisprudence by providing platforms for deliberation, debate, and the dissemination of new legal thoughts and doctrines.

In doing so, they ensure legal systems remain agile and responsive to the ever-evolving nature of
Transnational Organized Crimes and Illicit Financial Flows.

‘The true potential of JTIs is unlocked when we view them not as national entities but as nodes in a regional network of knowledge and collaboration; meanwhile, shared curricula, the exchange of resource persons, and collaborative research projects can elevate our collective understanding of Transnational Organized Crimes and Illicit Financial Flows,’ Koome said.

Moreover, this spirit of cooperation can serve as a blueprint for broader regional collaboration, encompassing not just the judiciary but also law enforcement, financial institutions, and policymakers in the region.

The three-day Regional Symposium organised and hosted by the Kenya Judicial Academy is themed; Strengthening the Adjudication of Transnational Organised Crimes and Illicit Financial Flows in Africa: Experiences, Challenges, and Emerging Issues Flows.

Koome said that Transnational organised Crimes and Illicit Financial Flows are not just legal issues; they are a deep-seated th
reat to the social fabric, economies, and governance structures because they threaten the shared vision of a prosperous, secure, and peaceful Africa.

Some of the TOCs that have increasingly been disruptive to the African Community include human trafficking, narcotics trade, illegal arms dealing, cybercrime, wildlife poaching, counterfeiting of products, and the alarming growth of illicit financial flows that have cast a shadow over the continent’s Development Aspirations.

Koome said that according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Transnational Organized Crimes generate an estimated 2.7 per cent of the global GDP with an annual value of approximately U.S $ 1.6 trillion, while the Global Financial Integrity (GFI) has recorded (IFF) that amount to an annual value of approximately U.S $ 1.1 trillion.

These Illicit Financial Flows involve the movement of money or assets that are illegally earned, transferred, or used across borders and are often carried out in tandem with crimes such as
tax evasion, trade mis-invoicing, bribery, embezzlement, fraud, and other crimes.

These illicit profits fuel corruption, undermine governance, erode the rule of law, and threaten the stability of states and regions.

‘Our region, like many others, is not immune to this menace. Some of the emerging trends and practices of Transnational Organized Crimes and Illicit Financial Flows in the region include the increasing use of technology and digital platforms by criminal networks to facilitate their operations, evade detection, and launder money, as well as the expansion of criminal markets and networks across borders, regions, and continents,’ Koome said.

She assured that while the challenges posed by transnational organised crime and illicit financial flows are undoubtedly significant, they are not insurmountable.

‘By pooling our resources, sharing our experiences, and standing united in our commitment to justice, we can ensure that our region remains a bastion of peace, prosperity, and the rule of law. With
collaboration, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to the principles of justice and rule of law, our judiciaries can and ought to play a pivotal role in addressing these global challenges,’ she concluded.

Source: Kenya News Agency