Chief Justice Martha Koome has urged increased investment in judicial infrastructure to enhance justice delivery.
Speaking during the launch of the Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) Suite and Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM) Registry in Marsabit, reaffirmed Judiciary’s commitment to enhancing access to justice for all Kenyans.
The Chief Justice urged Kenyans to embrace AJS noting that the Judiciary’s Multi-Door Approach to justice which incorporates AJS and CAM strategies, is designed to address systemic challenges such as delays and case backlogs.
She revealed that since its inception in 2016, Court-Annexed Mediation (CAM) has successfully resolved 21,451 cases, unlocking Ksh 61.1 billion back into the economy.
“Access to justice is not limited to court-based dispute resolution. The Judiciary has embraced the Multi-Door Approach, which seeks to eliminate barriers to justice such as delays and case backlogs. This approach has been instrumental in addressing various challenges within the justice system,” said Koome.
In addition to CAM, the Judiciary unveiled the Marsabit County AJS Model, County Action Plan, and Ukumbi Suite which aim to institutionalize traditional dispute resolution mechanisms.
Koome underscored the critical role of elders in resolving conflicts within the community, including land disputes, petty offences, intercommunity conflicts, and boundary disagreements.
“I urge the residents of Marsabit to embrace AJS mechanisms to resolve conflicts, especially inter-communal disputes. By addressing the root causes of conflict, AJS not only resolves disputes but also promotes peace and cohesion in the county. It means that apart from resolving disputes, we also expect the AJS elders and practitioners to be peace champions,” she stated.
The CJ called upon local leaders to collaborate with the Judiciary in establishing permanent court infrastructure to ease the travel burden for litigants and law enforcement officers.
She lauded the County Government of Marsabit for donating land in five locations for the construction of new court facilities but noted that progress is hampered by budgetary constraints.
By Prudence Wanza