President Ruto opens Refugee and Migration Judges' conference in Nairobi

For the first time, Africa is hosting the prestigious gathering of judges and migration law experts, highlighting Kenya’s leadership in managing one of the continent’s largest refugee populations. The association is led by Justice Isaack Lenaola, who serves as its president.

The week-long conference, themed “Protecting the Integrity of the Refugee and Migration Systems,” brings together judicial experts from around the world to address urgent challenges such as climate-induced displacement, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and the misuse of asylum procedures.

President Ruto urged the global community to uphold justice and human dignity for displaced persons.

“The numbers are not mere statistics; they are a reminder of this year’s theme and the urgent issues it highlights,” he said. “Refugees are individuals whose rights have been tested, yet they continue to carry hope and the desire to rebuild their lives.”

President Ruto also highlighted Kenya’s Shirika Plan, a program that seeks to cooperate with refugees to ensure they can live and prosper while promoting development in host communities.

Chief Justice Martha Koome, addressing the forum, highlighted the judiciary’s pivotal role in ensuring fairness and integrity in refugee protection. 

 “No nation can manage refugee protection alone; we continue to need each other. Judges must remain vigilant and courageous, ensuring that every asylum claim is handled fairly and justly,” she said.

CJ Koome emphasized that the rule of law, transparency, and accountability are critical in safeguarding refugee and migration systems.

 “At its core, refugee protection is about human dignity, something no machine can ever replicate,” she said.

The conference includes sessions on emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence in judicial processes, credibility assessments, child asylum seekers, social media evidence, and bilateral agreements to promote orderly migration and resource sharing.

Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, UNHCR Dr. Mamadou Dian Balde, noted that regional conflict, climate change, and governance challenges continue to drive displacement across the continent.

“This growing pressure tests the integrity of protection systems, underscoring the need for strong frameworks and an independent judiciary to ensure fairness and prevent exploitation,” he said.

Kenya’s experience provides a model for other nations grappling with large-scale displacement and climate-related migration. Hosting the conference positions Kenya as a global leader in upholding human dignity, justice, and regional solidarity for millions of displaced persons.

Since 1995, the IARMJ World Conference has served as a platform for sharing jurisprudence and advancing reforms in refugee and migration law.