Chief Justice Martha Koome has promised Kenyans a better and fairer justice system while dealing with cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
Speaking during the inaugural Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) national conference, the CJ acknowledged the judiciary’s role in giving justice to SGBV victims in the country.
“As guardians of justice, it is our duty to ensure that every Kenyan, regardless of their background or gender, can access justice without hindrance,” the Chief Justice noted in her keynote speech.
The theme of the pilot SGBV conference is “Enhancing Administration and Access to Justice for Victims of SGBV.”
CJ Martha Koome also noted the impact of SGBV cases on the community, expressing urgency to tackle the scrouge of sexual and gender-based violence in society.
Sexual and Gender based violence statistics in Kenya
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics’ (KNBS) Demographic and Health Survey of 2014, 45% of women and girls aged between 15 and 49 have experienced physical violence.
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Furthermore, 14% have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.
Commenting on the numbers, Kenya’s top judge stated that these figures were worrying and intolerable.
“They are alarming and unacceptable given the serious toll that SGBV inflicts on survivors. SGBV causes physical, psychological, and emotional harm to our women, men, girls, and boys and often leads to stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion,” Matha Koome stated.
Justice for SGBV victims
Martha Koome also acknowledged the role of the judiciary in the pursuit for justice among victims of SGBV.
Consequently, she admitted that in the case of investigations leading to the arrest of the perpetrators, efficiency in investigations and effective witness protection is paramount.
However, she stated that the judiciary is committed to ensuring the effectiveness of the judiciary in addressing the SGBV cases.
In this regard, she noted some measures that the Judiciary has undertaken to address the gaps in dealing with SGBV cases.
“The Judiciary launched the STAJ SGBV Court Strategy in June this year to guide the process of rolling out trauma-informed courts that will ensure expeditious and tailor-made justice to survivors of SGBV,” the Chief Justice noted.
“We have also rolled out 12 SGBV Courts across the country, targeting hot spot areas following the success of our pilot court in Shanzu, Mombasa,” Martha Koome continued.
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Notably, the Shanzu Mombasa pilot court was launched in November 2022. It aims at creating a survivor-centered justice system.
Further, the move seeks to enhance access to justice for all survivors of SGBV.
According to the CJ, the journey towards justice reforms for SGBV victims is not yet over.
“We also acknowledge that while significant progress has been made, much work remains to be done. It is imperative that we collectively 9 of 12 advocate for legal reforms, policy changes, and a transformative shift in societal norms,” Martha Koome emphasized.