East African Court of Justice, 22nd July 2021; The Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Lady Justice Martha Koome stated that the chords of the East African Union have indeed led to the formation of enduring and instrumental institutions of justice and Governance.
"The East Africa Court of Justice is a pivotal institutional pillar of this collaboration and a carrier of our cross-border codes of justice"
Her Ladyship asserted that “As a Court, you take the regional lead as a vehicle for realising good governance and the rule of law in the EAC region. The jurisprudence you have built over the years on adherence to universally acceptable principles of good governance, democracy, the rule of law, observance of human rights and social justice cannot go unnoticed.” said Lady Justice Koome
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 21st July, 2021: A technical meeting of the EAC Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (EAC-MRH) Programme to develop an Integrated Information Management System (IIMS) for National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs) is underway in Karatu, Tanzania.
The EAC has been implementing the MRH programme since March 2012 with the aim of harmonising technical requirements and optimising processes for medicines regulation to facilitate timely access to safe, affordable, efficacious and quality essential medicines, vaccines and medical devices for treatment, management and diagnosis of diseases of public health importance.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 16th July, 2021: The Head of the International Criminal Police Organization’s (Interpol) Nairobi Regional Bureau, Mr Gideon Kimilu, on Friday paid a courtesy call on the EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The two officials discussed several issues touching on regional peace and security including the EAC Joint Response to Regional and Cross-Border Security Threats.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 16th July, 2021:The East African Community Sectoral Council on Tourism and Wildlife Management has approved the EAC Regional COVID-19 Tourism Recovery Plan that seeks to revive the sector that has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministers who met virtually under the chairmanship of Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Najib Balala, noted that some EAC Partner States had already instituted measures such as the formulation of stimulus packages aimed at re-igniting the sector and supporting tourism investments in the region including the Small and Micro Enterprises
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 15th July 2021: The EAC Secretariat has launched the ‘Raising the Flag’ Project to promote the engagement of youth and children in the EAC integration process.
‘Raising the Flag’ is an EAC sensitization initiative that will be implemented in collaboration with Save the Children International and organisations under the East African Civil Society Organisations Forum and the East African Youth Network.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 15th July, 2021: A delegation from the Horn of Africa Youth Network (HoAYN) led by its Executive Director, Mr. David Momanyi, today paid a courtesy call on EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. Accompanying the HoAYN Executive Director was Mr. Sankale Ole Keis; Chairman of the HoAYN and Ms. Agnes Airo, Regional Youth Advisor-Save the Children.
Receiving the delegation, Dr. Mathuki hailed HoAYN for its efforts in fostering sustainable, equitable and youth-led development in East and the Horn of Africa region.
East African Court of Justice, 15th July 2021; The Judge President accompanied by other Judges paid a Courtesy call on Chief Justice (CJ) and President of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kenya, Lady Justice Martha Koome to discuss on the working relations.
Lady Justice Koome applauded the growth of the jurisdiction of the Court in handling human rights matters. “I am not new to EACJ having been a founder member and official of East African Law Society and I am happy to be part of the Court.” said the CJ.
Justice Koome who is 6 weeks old in the Office of the Chief Justice called upon the EACJ President and the entire Court to work together as brothers and sisters to support her work of CJ which is a shared responsibility for the interest of people of East Africa. "My work is to build on what my predecessor started in sustaining Judiciary transformation and focus on social justice through meditation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanism." said Justice Koome.
Her Ladyship also indicated the need to reduce the backlog of cases in the national courts, however the judiciaries continue to face various challenges including human resource capital, budget shortage, infrastructure among others. She therefore emphasized that with good faith and working together, resources can always be found.
On his part, Judge President Justice Nestor Kayobera informed the Chief Justice, that since he assumed the office of the President of the Court, he has not found difficulties in working with the other Heads of EAC Organs and he has already started working with the National judiciaries for example the meeting he held with 420 Judicial officers in Burundi to learn the relationship with the EACJ and its functioning. His Lordship added that this will be replicated in other Partner States.
His Lordship commended Lady Justice Koome for hosting the EACJ Sub-registry at Milimani Commercial Courts in Nairobi to contribute to access of the Court which is for the Citizens of East Africa. Justice Kayobera retaliated the teamwork spirit, good will and Judicial Diplomacy which will resolve several challenges faced by the Judiciaries across the region for the benefit of the people of EAC.
He also informed the CJ that the Court is planning to hold sessions in the Partner States to enhance awareness of the Court to the public. “I am very confident that Lady Justice Koome being the Chair of Chief Justices' forum a lot will be achieved” said Justice Kayobera.
The President of the Court concluded by informing the CJ that during the CJs forum meeting that was held in Kigali in May this year, decided to revise its functioning and that the next meeting will be held in Nairobi in December 2021. The forum also decided that the report of the activities of the East Africa Judicial Education Committee chaired by Justice Kathurima Judge of the Appellate Division, will be tabled before the CJ's forum before going to the Sectoral Council on legal and judicial affairs attended by Attorneys General.
In attendance of the Courtesy call also was the Vice President, Principal Judge, Deputy Principal Judge, the Registrar as well as Staff of the Court.
For more information please contact:
Yufnalis Okubo Registrar East African Court of Justice Arusha, Tanzania Tel: 255-27-2162149 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the East African Court of Justice
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ or ‘the Court’), is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. Established in November 2001, the Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty.
Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court’s sub-registries are located in the respective National Courts in the Partner States.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 14th July, 2021: The outgoing German Development Bank (KfW) Country Director for the United Republic of Tanzania, Mrs. Annika Calov, on Wednesday 14th July, 2021, bid farewell to EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Mrs. Calov, who was accompanied by her successor, Mrs. Jennifer Woerl, told the Secretary General that she was proud of the positive developments taking place in regional integration in East Africa.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 14th July, 2021: The International Labour Organization (ILO) Director for the United Republic of Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, Mr. Wellington Chibebe, on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Receiving the ILO Director, Dr. Mathuki expressed his appreciation for the cordial and strong relationship between ILO and the EAC in the pursuit of the Community’s objectives over the years.
East African Court of Justice, 13th July 2021; The Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya, Hon Justice Paul Kihara Kariuki officiated the Training for Judges on good governance and rule of law in East Africa which set off yesterday in Nairobi.
The four-day training under the theme “Enhancing the ability of the Bench and the Bar in East Africa to promote and expand the East African civic space through the East African Court of Justice Architecture” is being attended by all Judges of the EACJ.
