Florence Kajuju to ensure all Kenyans get justice

Besides being ranked one of the most active MPs in Parliament in 2015, Ms Florence Kajuju, the new Ombudsman, is remembered for her fight to have miraa (khat) recognised as a cash crop.

The former Meru woman representative chaired a National Assembly ad-hoc committee that went round the country collecting views on miraa.

“Europeans who claim miraa chewers are impotent should consider bringing their women to Meru to establish the truth,” she said in defence of the stimulant.

Ms Kajuju becomes the second chairperson of the Commission for Administrative Justice after Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo.

CAMPAIGN

The mother of three is an advocate who served as the vice chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya while running her firm in Meru Town.

In 2013, Ms Kajuju ran against the tide to win the woman rep seat on a Jubilee ticket.

Despite her aggressive campaign in 2017, she garnered 231,687 votes against Ms Kawira Mwangaza’s 231,687 280,272.

In Parliament, Ms Kajuju was instrumental in pushing for the creation of the National Government Affirmative Action Fund.

Her interest in justice has seen her serve in the Power of Mercy Committee, the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs as well as the Court Users Committee in Meru.

EQUALITY

Having taken up the role of a public service watchdog, Ms Kajuju says it is an opportunity take services close to people.

In an interview with the Saturday Nation, Ms Kajuju said she would start by reaching out to Kenyans so that they make use of her office.

“There has maladministration in public and private sectors but few Kenyans have been seeking services from the Ombudsman. I am keen on enforcing constitutionalism and promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms," she said.

"We want to encourage people to report any cases of maladministration from the government offices.”

JUSTICE

She says her office will work closely with the Judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights.

“The Ombudsman has offices in only six counties. We will be seeking more resources to enable us reach other parts of Kenya.

"It is also important to address the human resource challenge because we only have 72 employees against the recommended 336,” she said.

Ms Kajuju added that she would work towards ensuring the mandate of the commission is felt across the country.

“Our rallying call is ‘Hata mnyonge ana haki’ (Even the weak has access to justice). We will help the President achieve his Big Four agenda,” she said.