Three new commissioners have taken over at the Commission with a promise to improve public service delivery through closer collaborations with other players.
The three commissioners, who were appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta via Kenya Gazette Notice number 8044, took their oath of office with a pledge to focus on serving the people of Kenya.
The commissioners, led by the Chairperson, Hon. Florence Kajuju, were sworn into office in a ceremony presided over by Chief Justice, David Maraga, on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, at the Supreme Court Building, Nairobi. The oath was administered by the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Mrs. Anne Amadi.
The other two Commission members are Mr. Washington Opiyo Sati and Ms. Lucy Kamunye Ndung’u.
Hon. Kajuju noted that although much had been achieved by the predecessor commissioners, many complaints remain unresolved and promised that this would be addressed. She regretted that many Kenyans were unaware of the existence of the Office of the Ombudsman despite its critical role in providing free services for those who face challenges in accessing public services.
To address this, she said the Commission will reach out to Kenyans across the country to enlighten them on the mandate of the Commission and the need to take advantage of its free services to demand for better services from public offices and officers.
The Chairperson further observed that the Commission was a critical player in acting as a bridge between Kenyans and the Judiciary, particularly those who cannot afford legal fees required in litigating cases in court. In this respect, she promised Justice Maraga that the Commission will work closely with the Judiciary to advance alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in resolving challenges facing public service performance.
On his part, Justice Maraga pointed out that the Judiciary continues to receive complaints from members of the public on matters that fall squarely within the mandate of the Commission and from time to time they are referred back to the Commission. He thus called for closer collaboration so that Kenyans receive the public services they deserve.
The commissioners will serve for a six-year term effective from August 2, 2018.
