Judicial associations engines of capacity-building – CRJ Winfridah Mokaya.
Judicial associations engines of capacity-building – CRJ Winfridah Mokaya.
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Hon Winfridah Mokaya has underscored the need to strengthen judicial associations saying they are engines of capacity-building, peer accountability, and regional solidarity.
She said strengthening them is not optional but it is instead a strategic imperative for a modern, confident, and people-centred justice system across East Africa. In addition, it means safeguarding the pipelines that will produce the next generation of judicial leaders for East Africa.
“These associations are not peripheral; they are strategic levers that enhance peer learning, entrench collaboration, strengthen professional standards, and build the jurisprudential coherence our region needs,” the CRJ explained.
She expressed the need to rethink and innovate around financing models that ensure these institutions remain resilient and future-ready.
“These associations have been formidable mentorship hubs, shaping our professional ethos, grounding us in judicial responsibility, and preparing emerging leaders for the complexity of judicial service.
They also provide us with the solidarity and collective strength needed to defend the independence of the Judiciary across the region — a cornerstone of constitutionalism and democratic stability.”
Speaking at the 22nd East Africa Magistrates and Judges Association EAMJA Annual Conference in Nairobi, the CRJ noted that the conference offers a critical platform to examine which justice pathways — whether formal, digital, community-based, or alternative — are delivering the greatest impact and value to citizens while offering challenges to examine whether the investment models sufficiently reflect today’s technology-driven, innovation-enabled realities.
She noted that this year’s theme – Justice Beyond Brick and Mortar: Unlocking Multi-Door Pathways for People Centered-Justice in East Africa – speaks directly to the realities leaders confront when managing the administrative engines of judiciaries.
“Justice, as a public service, is evolving alongside the broader socio-economic landscape. To remain relevant and responsive, we must continuously retool our systems and embed new, effective mechanisms for service delivery,” she stated.
