NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 18 – Chief justice Martha Koome has stressed the importance of an effective dispute resolution system in handling cases within the criminal justice system.
Speaking Wednesday when she presided over the Inter-Continental Mediation Summit in Nairobi, Koome emphasized the need to ensure that Kenya’s legal system is accessible, efficient, and equitable for all.
The summit aims to advance the utilization of mediation and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in Kenya and the entire continent.
The CJ said that criminal justice actors should focus on the resolution of commercial, land, and employment disputes through mediation, as they can have far reaching consequences on the country’s social, economic, and inclusive development.
“The success of mediation in Kenya requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including the government, the private sector, the law society, and civil society. In this regard, I urge all of you here today to continue championing mediation as an effective dispute resolution mechanism,” Koome said.
Commenting on family disputes, Koome said that such conflicts are often best resolved through mediation as in this way we restore harmony in families.
She added that mediation enables individuals and families to thrive which then cascades to communities and nation, enhancing social harmony and peaceful co-existence in the society.
CJ Koome admitted that despite the progress made in the mediation space, there is still much to be done.
“It is crucial that we, as a nation, continue to invest in the development of mediation, both as an integral part of our legal system and as a tool for fostering social, economic, and inclusive development,” she added.
Koome pointed out that the Kenyan Judiciary is committed to championing the cause of mediation in the country.
She appealed to the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators to work towards strengthening the capacity of mediators in the country.
Koome said that the country must invest in the training of mediators by ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively resolve disputes.
“By establishing and maintaining high standards of professionalism, we will ensure that our mediation services are of the highest quality,” the CJ said.
The summit brought together actors and stakeholders from the mediation space, from Kenya and beyond, to share and exchange ideas and deliberate on how to promote the use and uptake of mediation as the first option in dispute resolution.
Present in the event was Ambassador Raychelle Omamo, the Chairperson of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, James Mang’erere, Patron of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, Judges and Judicial Officers from Kenya and those visiting from other countries.
