NAIROBI – During a recent session of the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), Chief Justice Martha Koome underscored the critical need for inter-agency collaboration to effectively combat corruption in Kenya. The meeting aimed to devise strategies to enhance accountability and improve the efficiency of service delivery across the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, corruption poses a complex challenge that undermines public institutions, hampers economic growth, and erodes public trust. Despite the implementation of various policy, legal, and administrative reforms aimed at combating corruption and enhancing accountability, Koome acknowledged the persistent evolution of corrupt practices, necessitating the adoption of new strategies to address the issue.
The Chief Justice highlighted the justice sector’s crucial role in preventing, investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating corruption cases. She reaffirmed the sector’s commitment to intensifying efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of corruption on society. Koome emphasized the importance of improving institutional cooperation mechanisms and embedding accountability in all operations and functions of the justice sector.
Among the resolutions made during the meeting were the promotion of collective leadership to address corruption boldly and decisively, the prioritization of system examinations within justice sector agencies to identify and remediate corruption risk areas, and the digitization and automation of processes to prevent corruption opportunities. The Chief Justice also stressed the significance of strengthening inter-agency collaboration to enhance efficiency and accountability.
Further, the NCAJ plans to augment public engagement through Court user committees nationwide to tackle emerging challenges, rebuild public trust, and expedite the conclusion of anti-corruption cases at the grassroots level. Koome outlined the necessity for a comprehensive framework and roadmap to guide the national anti-corruption strategy, ensuring seamless service delivery and enhanced accountability.
Chief Justice Koome concluded by emphasizing the need for cooperation and coordination among various agencies, acknowledging that the fight against corruption requires a concerted effort involving investigations, prosecution, and judicial processes to ensure fair and expeditious hearings.