Koome Orders Full Rollout of Gender Justice Courts to Tackle Femicide

Kenya, July 14, 2026 - Chief Justice Martha Koome has called for urgent operationalisation of Gender Justice Courts across the country as part of efforts to confront the rising cases of gender-based violence and femicide in Kenya.

Speaking after meeting the Gender Justice Implementation Committee on Tuesday, CJ Koome said access to justice must remain central to the national response to GBV, and that survivors deserve a system that is accessible, responsive and trauma-informed.

“As Kenya continues to confront the painful realities of gender-based violence and the rising concern over femicide, we are reminded that access to justice must remain at the centre of our national response. Every survivor deserves a justice system that is accessible, responsive, trauma-informed and capable of delivering timely justice,” she said.

The CJ commended the Committee for laying a strong foundation for the initiative through development of an implementation framework, preparation of training resources, baseline data collection, and engagement with development partners.

She noted that the Judiciary has now moved to the next phase, which will focus on turning plans into action.

“Our priority is to strengthen and operationalise Gender Justice Courts, enhance survivor-centred services, build the capacity of judicial officers and justice sector actors, and deepen collaboration across the justice chain,” Koome stated.

The Chief Justice stressed that gender justice cannot be achieved by the Judiciary alone and called for sustained partnerships with other justice sector institutions, government agencies, civil society, development partners and communities.

She said the goal is to protect the rights and dignity of women, children and all vulnerable persons.

“As we advance this agenda, we remain committed to evidence-based decision-making, institutional reforms, and transparent communication that strengthens public confidence and ensures every court user understands where and how to access gender-responsive justice,” she added.

Koome said the Judiciary envisions a justice system “where every survivor is heard, protected and treated with dignity, and where the promise of equal justice under the Constitution becomes a lived reality.”

The Gender Justice Courts initiative is part of broader Judiciary reforms aimed at making courts more responsive to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.