By Chris Koroba
Kisii County is taking bold steps toward reshaping its justice landscape by developing a localized County Action Plan on Alternative Justice Systems (AJS).
This is a people-centered framework designed to make justice more accessible, culturally relevant, and community-driven.
Also, the AJS taps into traditional dispute resolution mechanisms that have existed for generations, now being formalized to complement the formal justice system.
Speaking during a three-day sensitization workshop in Kisii, Court of Appeal Judge and Chair of the National Steering Committee on AJS Implementation, Prof. Joel Ngugi, emphasized the transformative potential of the plan.
“The AJS County Action Plan will provide a framework for Kisii to implement Kenya’s national AJS Policy at the local level,” he said.
“It will empower residents to resolve disputes outside formal courts, fostering faster and less adversarial outcomes.”
The plan, once finalized, will be officially launched by Chief Justice and Supreme Court President Martha Koome, marking a milestone in Kenya’s judicial decentralization efforts.
Anchored in Article 159 of the Constitution, the AJS Policy recognizes traditional dispute resolution mechanisms, provided they align with the Bill of Rights and the law.
The Kisii initiative is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Union, through the Digital Land Governance Programme, in partnership with the Kisii County Department of Lands and the AJS Secretariat.
The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the Judiciary, law enforcement, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), county officials, children’s officers, probation officers, NGAOs, the Abagusii Council of Elders, civil society, and community-based organizations.
Prof. Ngugi noted that stakeholders reviewed existing AJS practices in Kisii, identifying those that should be accelerated, strengthened, or supported with policy and guidelines from the Judiciary.
Kisii Presiding Judge Justice Sila Munyao highlighted the importance of aligning justice processes with constitutional values such as human rights and gender equality, while promoting community ownership.
Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Omwansa, Deputy Registrar for AJS and Mediation, pointed out that nearly 90% of court cases involve individuals who know each other, often family or community members, making AJS a more effective and empathetic approach.
“AJS is cost-effective, time-saving, and uses language that both parties understand,” he added.
Kisii County Attorney Alfred Nyandieka described the workshop as a pivotal moment in embedding community-driven justice within the formal legal framework, signaling a shift toward inclusive and accessible justice for all Kisii residents.
The preliminary draft of the Kisii AJS County Action Plan will undergo a 45-day validation process, engaging more community voices before its official launch.
