There is urgent need to align criminal laws with the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, CJ Koome

Chief Justice Martha Koome chaired a consultative meeting of the National Council on the Administration of Justice and the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC).

During the meeting, the NCAJ provided a detailed overview of the proposed legislative reforms in the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

The CJ said that in pursuit of long-term sustainability and effectiveness, the NCAJ is actively working on the development of a draft NCAJ Bill. This Bill seeks to establish the Council under its own Act of Parliament, reinforcing its capacity to fulfil its mandate effectively.

“Our penal laws are over half a century old and contain many outdated provisions with colonial underpinnings, which do not reflect the current Kenyan society, the CJ said.

She said there is urgent need to align criminal laws with the 2010 Constitution of Kenya.

“I wish to express my gratitude for the unwavering commitment and collaborative efforts of the multi-agency Committee on Criminal Justice Reforms (NCCJR), led by Lady Justice Grace Ngenye, Judge of Appeal,” CJ Koome said.

She emphasised the importance of providing regular updates on the ongoing proposed review of the criminal justice process to the JLAC. She further reiterated the commitment to enhance access to justice at the community level and called for closer collaboration to achieve shared objectives.