John Mwangi
Nairobi.
Kenya reaffirmed its leadership in human rights and principled migration governance on Monday as President William Ruto officially opened the 14th World Conference of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ), bringing more than 200 judges, jurists, and delegates from around the world to Nairobi.
Co-hosted by the Kenya Judiciary, the three-day conference—running from November 17 to 19 and followed by professional development workshops on November 20–21—focuses on the theme “Protecting the Integrity of the Refugee and Migration Systems.”
Delegates are examining issues such as the role of artificial intelligence in judicial decision-making, mounting climate-induced displacement, and the evolution of refugee law.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, delivering a keynote address, urged the global community to anchor refugee and migration systems in integrity, fairness, and humanity as displacement reaches historic levels.
“At a time when more than 120 million people worldwide are displaced, courts play a vital role in safeguarding due process, ensuring credible decision-making, upholding the principle of non-refoulement, and protecting the dignity of vulnerable individuals seeking safety,” she said.
Koome emphasized that no country can confront today’s complex migration pressures alone, calling for stronger judicial cooperation, shared standards, and transparent systems to sustain public trust.
“Strong judicial cooperation is essential to maintaining public confidence and delivering justice to those in need,” she noted.
The conference comes as global displacement intensifies, with UNHCR projecting that 139.3 million people will be forcibly displaced or stateless by the end of 2025—underscoring the urgency of the gathering’s theme.
Dr. Mamadou Dian Balde, UNHCR Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, warned that the growing pressure is “testing the integrity of protection systems,” reinforcing the need for robust legal frameworks and an independent judiciary to uphold fairness and prevent exploitation.
Kenya—long a host to hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia, South Sudan, and the wider region—continues to position itself as a central voice in shaping global migration discourse.
President Ruto, in his opening remarks, echoed the call for justice and humane migration policies.
“Your obligation as judges is the solemn duty to ensure that every refugee and migrant who comes before you finds justice, fairness, and the reassurance that their case has been heard with dignity and integrity,” he told delegates at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Kenya’s Judiciary expressed pride in hosting the landmark conference and in contributing to strengthened global asylum and migration systems.
“Kenya is honored to provide a platform for this critical global dialogue,” Koome concluded, signaling a renewed push for collaborative action in an era of unprecedented mobility and displacement.