Chief Justice Martha Koome admitted Friday over 800 lawyers to the Roll of Advocates as she urged them to ensure vulnerable groups get access to justice.
Koome noted that access to justice is often equated to court representation, yet many litigants cannot afford competent legal services.
According to the CJ, such groups as the elderly, children, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities, are disproportionately affected by the high cost of legal representation.
“Given this reality, advocates in Kenya must go beyond what is expected in other jurisdictions to bridge this gap,” she said.
This, she noted, involves providing legal services and advice to those who cannot afford them adding that by addressing this “justice gap,” they contribute to building a fairer society.
The ceremony was held at the Supreme Court building.
Koome also urged the new cohort of advocates to be compassionate and promote justice and equal opportunity while remaining steadfast in their core values without compromising on their conscience or integrity.
“Your role as advocates extends beyond legal representation. You are social engineers, defenders of the underprivileged, and agents of change. This is not merely a profession but a calling that demands integrity, courage, and unwavering commitment to justice,” noted the CJ.
Koome also took the opportunity to reiterate that the Judiciary Service Commission and the Judiciary leadership are committed to zero-tolerance to corruption.
She said measures have been put in place for effective complaints handling, investigations, and processing systems at both the JSC and the Office of the Judiciary Ombudsman.
“I urge any person with complaints against any Judge, Judicial Officer, or a member of our staff to come forward and lodge such complaints with the two offices for investigations and processing. We are committed to dealing firmly, swiftly, transparently but also fairly with any complaints against any of our personnel,” said the CJ.
