Chief Justice Martha Koome is in Kampala, Uganda, for the 17th International Association of Women Judges Africa Region Conference.
She discussed how the representation of women in the judiciary and other positions of power is changing across the continent.
“Women are increasingly breaking down barriers to occupy positions of leadership in the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciaries not only in Kenya, but also in a number of other African countries,” CJ Koome said.
She stated that the Kenyan judiciary currently has 91 male judges to 81 female judges, as well as 298 male Magistrates to 295 female Magistrates.
“These changes mirror similar developments in the legal profession, where recent trends show that more female lawyers are being admitted to the bar,” Koome observed.
In her remarks, Chief Justice Koome stated that as judicial officers from various countries gather in Uganda, they will examine the gains, challenges, and chart a course forward on how best to serve people as women judges.
“We will discuss other topics such as access to justice and how we can make our population access justice,” CJ Koome said.
She stated that the 13 IAWJ chapter countries must learn and adopt legal systems used by one country that can be used in their own judicial systems.
Justice Koome stated that Kenya, like Uganda, is attempting to implement specialized courts to deal with sexual and gender-based violence.
“They (Uganda) have another Division of the High Court that deals with international crimes, and I am under pressure to establish a similar division to combat crimes such as terrorism, piracy, and all other international crimes.” According to CJ Koome.
