On Wednesday, the Natural Justice team visited the Office of the Ombudsman (Commission on Administrative Justice – CAJ) in Nairobi to deepen collaboration aimed at improving communities access justice and public services.
For many communities across Kenya, especially those in marginalized and climate-affected areas, knowing where to report injustice, demand information, or challenge poor service delivery can feel out of reach. The Office of the Ombudsman plays a critical role in bridging this gap, with a constitutional mandate to investigate maladministration, oversee public complaints, and promote transparency in government.
During the meeting, the Natural Justice team held a productive discussion with Dan Karomo, Director of Finance and Administration alongside other CAJ staff. The conversation focused on how partnerships like this can translate national accountability mechanisms into real support for communities on the ground.
Dan Karomo emphasised the importance of working together to ensure people understand their rights and can safely raise concerns about how public resources are used.
“This engagement with Natural Justice presents a great opportunity for our office to work collaboratively to strengthen community access to justice, particularly in areas where systemic issues such as public funds oversight and transparency are critical,” said Dan Karomo
Natural Justice shared how its work with frontline communities – particularly around Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA), where CAJ provides oversight – often reveals gaps in access to information and accountability. By partnering with CAJ, Natural Justice aims to help communities better understand how climate funds are managed, where to report concerns, and how to hold institutions accountable when services fall short.
The engagement also builds on previous collaboration between Natural Justice and CAJ on access to information and Alternative Justice Systems, tools that empower communities to resolve disputes, seek remedies, and engage public institutions in culturally appropriate ways.
“Collaborating with the Office of the Ombudsman aligns with our mission to ensure that community voices are heard and that administrative justice supports inclusive development,” said Elizabeth Kariuki, Natural Justice Hub Director.
Ultimately, this partnership is about making justice more accessible so that ordinary citizens, especially those most affected by climate impacts and governance gaps, can speak up, be heard, and see change. The engagement marks an important step toward joint efforts to raise community awareness, strengthen reporting pathways, and improve justice outcomes across counties.
