Obstacles To The Use Of Citizen Data In Environmental Litigation Before East African Courts

Citizen Science: Theory and Practice

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Abstract: This legal review explores four structural challenges facing the use of citizen environmental data in East African litigation. These include lack of environmental quality standards, procedural over substance focus, poor admissibility due to absent data protocols, and adversarial legal environments. The paper examines court cases and policy frameworks in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, revealing colonial legacies and barriers to citizen science integration. It recommends stronger legal safeguards, clarity in data collection standards, and policy reforms to improve public participation in environmental justice.