{"id":113643,"date":"2025-04-14T12:13:25","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T12:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/index.php\/2025\/04\/14\/dcj-mwilu-hails-high-courts-pivotal-role-in-advancing-devolution\/"},"modified":"2025-04-14T12:13:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T12:13:25","slug":"dcj-mwilu-hails-high-courts-pivotal-role-in-advancing-devolution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/dcj-mwilu-hails-high-courts-pivotal-role-in-advancing-devolution\/","title":{"rendered":"DCJ Mwilu Hails High Court\u2019s Pivotal Role in Advancing Devolution"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>MOMBASA, Kenya, Apr 14 \u2013 Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu has commended the High Court for its vital role in steering Kenya\u2019s devolution journey over the past 15 years, underscoring its impact on governance, justice, and constitutionalism.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Speaking at the 2025 High Court Leaders\u2019 Conference, DCJ Mwilu highlighted the Court\u2019s contributions in shaping the legal and operational framework of devolution since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe High Court\u2019s jurisprudence has been instrumental in defining the architecture of devolution and strengthening the principles of equity, inclusivity, and justice at both national and county levels,\u201d she said. \u201cIts presence in all 47 counties is a clear testament to the Judiciary\u2019s commitment to bringing justice closer to the people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mwilu noted that the decentralization of High Court services has not only improved access to justice but also enhanced public trust in the rule of law. She praised the judiciary\u2019s role in clarifying the boundaries of power between national and county governments, resolving intergovernmental disputes, and safeguarding constitutional rights at the grassroots level.<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on the theme of the conference, <em>\u201c15 Years of Devolution: The High Court\u2019s Role in Shaping Governance\u201d<\/em>, Mwilu encouraged judicial leaders to embrace the spirit of devolution by tailoring justice delivery to local contexts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLeadership that ignores context is like a map with no landmarks\u2014misguided at best, dangerous at worst,\u201d she remarked. \u201cEach presiding judge must lead in fostering a local legal culture that reflects the unique dynamics of their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also emphasized the close alignment between the objects of devolution under Article 174 of the Constitution and the Judiciary\u2019s transformation agenda\u2014from the Judiciary Transformation Framework (JTF) to the current Social Transformation Through Access to Justice (STAJ).<\/p>\n<p>Calling for \u201cabsolute accountability,\u201d the Deputy Chief Justice reminded judges of their oath to serve the people diligently and uphold the Constitution without fear or favour.<\/p>\n<p>Mwilu concluded by acknowledging the ongoing challenges facing the devolution process and urged the High Court to remain vigilant and innovative in its oversight role.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe next phase of devolution demands fresh approaches to service delivery, conflict resolution, and rights protection. The High Court must remain a steadfast guardian of constitutionalism and local empowerment,\u201d she said. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said the theme of the conference is timely and reasonable and that it invites participants to reflect on how far the country has come since the promulgation of the new constitution and how institutions especially the Senate and the Judiciary have nurtured devolution.<\/p>\n<p>High Court Principal Judge, Eric Ogola said the High Court has established itself as a leader in the devolution of judicial services, now proudly present in all 47 counties across Kenya\u2014most recently marked by the gazettement of the Wajir High Court Sub-Registry on 2nd April 2025. \u201cThe establishment of High Court services in every county is a key pillar of the Judiciary\u2019s Blueprint for Social Transformation through Access to Justice, ensuring that every Kenyan, regardless of their geographical location, has access to timely and fair judicial services,\u201d said Justice Ogola.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at the same forum, Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya highlighted the role that the Judiciary has played in strengthening devolution. \u201cThe High Court has remained steadfast\u2014ruling on impeachment processes, intergovernmental disputes, budgetary disagreements, and the balance of power between the two levels of government,\u201d she observed. She lauded the judges for demonstrating courage, integrity, and fidelity to the Constitution\u2014even when it was not politically convenient to do so.<\/p>\n<p>Others who addressed the forum are, Mombasa Deputy Governor Francis Thoya and Employment and Labour Relations Court Principal Judge Byram Ongaya. The conference brought together High Court judges and Deputy Registrars from across the country for a series of discussions on devolution, governance, and the future of justice in Kenya.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MOMBASA, Kenya, Apr 14 \u2013 Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu has commended the High Court for its vital role in steering Kenya\u2019s devolution journey over the past 15 years, underscoring its impact on governance, justice, and constitutionalism. Speaking at the 2025 High Court Leaders\u2019 Conference, DCJ Mwilu highlighted the Court\u2019s contributions in shaping the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113643"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113643\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}