This week, the Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa, Kenya, faced a striking challenge. Six Iranian nationals linked to a Kes 8.2 billion methamphetamine seizure could not take a plea; not because of evidence gaps, but because of language. The accused neither speaks nor understands English or Kiswahili, the official languages of our courts.
The prosecution requested time to secure an independent #interpreter, and the magistrate ordered the proceedings delayed. For some, this may appear to be a mere formality. In truth, it touches on one of the most critical guarantees in law: the right to understand and to be understood.
Language as a Cornerstone of Fair Trial
Justice is not just about evidence, procedure, or statute. It is about access. If a defendant cannot comprehend the charges against them or the consequences of their words, then justice risks becoming theatre. Every legal term, every #nuance, every #testimony must be rendered faithfully. Otherwise, rights are eroded, and due process is compromised.
The Shanzu case lays bare a fundamental truth: language access is not an accessory to justice; it is justice.
Why Institutions Must Take Linguistic Justice Seriously
In today’s interconnected world, language diversity is the norm, not the exception. From courtrooms to hospitals, from boardrooms to international summits, accurate and impartial interpretation determines whether participation is meaningful or exclusionary.
This is why institutions must move beyond ad hoc arrangements and proactively engage professional #interpreters and #translators who can guarantee #integrity, #neutrality, and #precision.
At Rivaton Translators, we call this linguistic justice: ensuring that no person, community, or institution is silenced or disadvantaged because of language. We specialize in supporting courts, governments, and organizations with professional interpreting and translation as we bridge languages so that rights are upheld, cultures are connected, and progress is enabled.
The Shanzu magistrate’s insistence on proper interpretation was not a delay. It was a safeguard. It affirmed that #justice must be clearly heard.
When language becomes a barrierlike, as happened in Shanzu Law Courts, justice is the casualty. Bridging that gap is not just our profession at Rivaton Translators; it is our mission.