Updated guidelines to boost the impact of Court Users’ Committees (CUCs) across Kenya and streamline the administration of justice have been released today by the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ).

Nairobi - CUCs are an important coordination and consultation platform because they bring together justice sector agencies and users to enhance public participation, develop public understanding of court operations and promote effective partnerships, amongst other objectives.

The guidelines are practical and set out the core values, objectives, functions, membership, financing, performance indicators and monitoring and evaluation requirements for CUCs. “In seeking to transform our justice system, we must leave silo approaches behind and enable collective responsibility and mutual accountability amongst and between actors in the justice system, and this is made possible through CUCs,” the Acting NCAJ Executive Director, Mr Conrad Bosire, said. “We must equip and empower CUCs to achieve their objectives, including improving access to justice for children, women and persons with disabilities, and promoting dialogue among stakeholders and court users,” he said. The guidelines were published with support from the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime through the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery in Kenya (PLEAD).

The guidelines are available on the NCAJ website here. Section 35 of the Judicial Service Act No.1 of 2011 institutionalizes CUCs by providing for the establishment of the NCAJ to ensure a coordinated, efficient, effective and consultative approach in the administration of justice and the transformation of the justice system.The NCAJ is tasked with the establishment and operationalization of CUCs at the County Level, Court Stations, Tribunals and other specialized Courts.