Ksh.4.5B To Boost Access To Justice

Judiciary Secures Ksh.4.5B From EU To Boost Access To Justice

The Judiciary has secured Ksh.4.5 billion from the European Union (EU) towards implementation of the second phase of the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery in Kenya (PLEAD II).

According to EU’s Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative Josep Borrell, the new phase will focus on equipping the criminal justice system to fight graft while employing digital technologies.

“PLEAD has initiated transformative criminal justice reforms in Kenya, delivered key support to judicial institutions and allowed to develop an extensive offer of legal aid services to vulnerable and marginalized citizens,” Borrell said.

He was speaking on Friday at the launch of the programme with Chief Justice Martha Koome at the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi.

Ksh.4.5B To Boost Access To Justice. Photo Courtesy

“In the upcoming months, together with the Judiciary, our teams from the EU, UNODC, UNDP and civil society stakeholders will work together to pave the way forward for better access to justice and improved fight against corruption in Kenya,” he added.

On her part, CJ Koome said the second phase builds on the successes of PLEAD I, which spanned 12 counties and enhanced access to justice for the poor and vulnerable through the provision of legal aid.

“We have seen significant improvement in institutional effectiveness and performance by the various actors in the justice sector,” noted the CJ.

“The support from the PLEAD I programme enabled the actors within the justice sector to continue delivering services despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The new phase is set to kick off later this year and will run up to 2028.