STATING NORMATIVE AND SOCIOLOGICAL LEGITIMACY OF THE EAST AFRICAN COURT OF JUSTICE

Abstract

In 2021, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) marked twenty years of its existence. During this period, the Court has established some kind of authority in the East African Community region, by issuing a significant number of decisions in a wide scope nature. Such decisions include the rule of law, human rights, environment, integration pillars and even matters pertaining to national sovereignty as well as contests for the seats of the East African legislative Assembly. In the process, the EACJ is on the verge of adding or losing its legitimacy, bearing in mind that, inevitably, EACJ like most international courts live under a precarious political patch, which at times, detects the manner of their functioning. Indeed, the life span of the EACJ correctly implies some maturity on its part. Nevertheless, questions on its legitimacy are inevitable. Thus, this article provokes the discussion on the legitimacy of a regional economic community court, the EACJ, by adopting normative and sociological approaches.