Judiciary inaugurates Alternative Justice System Centre in Marsabit
By Issa Hussein |
CJ Koome explained that private mediation enables parties to resolve disputes outside the court, with the resulting agreements being adopted by the court as enforceable orders.
The Judiciary on Thursday inaugurated an Alternative Justice System (AJS) Centre in Marsabit to promote the uptake and use of mediation in Kenya’s second-largest county and beyond.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, the event’s chief guest, highlighted the Judiciary’s commitment to a Multi-Door Approach in delivering justice by incorporating alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation and traditional AJS methods.
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“To promote the uptake and use of mediation in Marsabit and across the country, we have launched the Marsabit Court-Annexed Mediation Registry, Private Mediation Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions, as well as Family Mediation Guidelines,” Koome stated.
She explained that private mediation enables parties to resolve disputes outside the court, with the resulting agreements being adopted by the court as enforceable orders.
Koome added that the initiative provides a cost-effective, efficient, and amicable means of resolving disputes while advancing the Judiciary’s multi-door approach to justice.
The Chief Justice also unveiled the Marsabit County AJS Action Plan, AJS Model, and the AJS Ukumbi Suite, describing them as critical avenues for resolving disputes within the multi-door justice framework. These initiatives ensure the continued relevance of traditional mechanisms in dispute resolution.
The launch of Alternative Justice System (AJS) Centre in Marsabit. (Handout)
Koome emphasised that the Marsabit AJS Model acknowledges the vital role played by elders and community practitioners in fostering peaceful coexistence among the county’s 14 communities.
“This model addresses pressing issues such as land disputes, petty offences, intercommunity conflicts, and boundary disputes,” she said.
The Chief Justice noted the necessity of AJS in Marsabit County, which is vast and currently served by only two court stations in Marsabit and Moyale.
She assured residents of areas like Laisamis, North Horr, and Loyangalani—currently served by mobile courts under the Marsabit Law Court—as well as those in Sololo and Bute under the Moyale Law Court, that fully established courts would soon be implemented in line with the Judiciary’s Social Transformation through Access to Justice blueprint, which proposes courts in every sub-county.
Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali welcomed the launch of the AJS Centre, describing it as a major milestone for the county’s poor and marginalised communities.
“Litigation is often costly, the legal procedures are complex, and court cases can take years to resolve. The AJS offers reprieve, providing timely and affordable justice,” the governor said.
He expressed optimism that the AJS Centre would address the backlog of cases in the courts and ease congestion in prisons caused by petty offences.
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