Kiambu:The Judiciary and justice-sector stakeholders in Kiambu County have launched a weeklong Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) programme at the Kiambu Law Courts, running from October 26 to 30. This initiative aims to deepen public access to justice through community-rooted dispute resolution.
According to Kenya News Agency, the programme blends formal legal processes with suitable community-based approaches as envisaged under Article 159 of the Constitution, which directs courts to promote reconciliation, mediation, arbitration, and traditional dispute-resolution mechanisms.
AJS provides ordinary citizens with a faster, cheaper, and less adversarial path to resolving everyday disputes, easing the burden on the courts while keeping communities and relationships intact. The programme is supported by various stakeholders, including the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Kiambu Chapter, mediators, the Probation and Aftercare Services, Kiama kia Ma, the Kigotho Cultural Group, and the general public.
During the launch, Chief Magistrate Eunice Kagure Nyutu emphasized that disputes involving families, neighbors, and business partners rarely end in clear winners or losers. She cautioned against using alternative justice to discriminate against vulnerable people or erode the rights of any party. Nyutu clarified that while AJS is suited to civil and minor disputes, it cannot be applied to serious criminal offenses.
Deputy Presiding Judge Bahati Mwamui noted that only three percent of disputes eventually reach the courts, with the majority resolved within communities. He highlighted that no party could be forced into alternative dispute resolution but courts and the ODPP could recommend it where appropriate.
ODPP Deputy Prosecutor Evelyn Onunga reiterated that alternative dispute resolution is not a new concept introduced by the courts but has existed in traditional African societies for generations. She mentioned the use of diversion and plea bargaining to resolve eligible criminal matters.
LSK Kiambu Chapter representative Beth Fundi announced free legal consultations throughout the week, urging communities to embrace reconciliatory traditions. Mediators Chapter Secretary Peter Kairu explained that mediation could be initiated by court referral or private arrangement.
Community leaders, including Shamte Munyua of Kiama kia Ma and Herman Muturi of the Kigotho Cultural Group, welcomed the initiative, citing its potential to resolve disputes faster and preserve relationships. As the AJS Week continues, stakeholders encourage the public to learn about available dispute-resolution mechanisms before resorting to court.
Source Kenya News Agency
