Alternative Justice Systems practitioners were on Friday October 31, 2025 praised for their dedication towards ensuring justice is served.
This even as Nakuru hosted AJS Open Day at the Nakuru Law Courts.
The event was planned by National Steering Committee on Implementation of Alternative Justice Systems (NaSCI-AJS) in partnership with SPEAK Kenya, Amkeni Wakenya, UNFAO and Judiciary.
Speaking during the event Nakuru Presiding Judge Hedwig Ongudi lauded the AJS practitioners for the good work they are doing in supporting the Justice System.
She pointed out that some of the cases are better if dealt at the AJS than being taken to court where the law is applied with punitive punishment.
Lady Justice Ongudi noted that succession matters in Nakuru county are at a level that cannot be compared to any other.
She stated that there is worrying trend that some siblings in monogamous family are having conflicts over issues that can be addressed through AJS.
Lady Justice Ongudi called on religious leaders to step up and talk to members of the public and moreso families to avert such conflicts.
“The deceased men and women sacrificed so much to have their children have something, but then the children cannot agree and this pains me so much. As religious leaders, we need to encourage families to have their issues handled through AJS, and even iron out their issues,” she stated.
The Judge stated that when such small matters are addressed through AJS then it ease the burden on the courts.
She assured that the courts will work closely with the AJS practitioners through referrals to ensure justice for all.
“Prepare for more cases as from next year and continue the good work you started,” she said.
Head of Secretariat National Steering Committee- on Implementation of Alternative Justice Systems(NaSCI-AJS) Ms Jemimah Aluda pointed out that AJS has helped address some of the gaps that the courts have not been able to handle.
Having served as a Prosecutor for many years, Ms Jemimah revealed that the courts have had hurdles in handling some cases.
To address this, AJS policy was launched in 2020 towards ensuring justice for all through AJS.
According to her, the current Chief Justice Martha Koome has the idea of social transformation by providing multiple doors for accessing justice.
She revealed that Nakuru County was the first one to develop County Action Plan that was launched in May 2022 opening more doors of accessing justice.
This, she said has seen Nakuru become a home of benchmarking on matters AJS.
“As we celebrate this third year of Nakuru AJS, we have to remember CJ Martha Koome who had the dream of the multiple doors of Access to justice and it is now a reality in Nakuru,” she said.
Edna Wanjiru from Registry AJS Nakuru Court Annexed and member National Steering Committee- on Implementation of Alternative Justice Systems(NaSCI-AJS) pointed out that the majority of cases handled under AJS in Nakuru are matters land and succession especially among siblings after the demise of parents.
Project Officer at SPEAK Kenya Gladys Muigai pointed out that as Organization they have held training for paralegals who are now playing key role in ensuring justice at community level.
This has been enabled through PLEAD II with support from EU through UNDP Amkeni Wakenya.
Ms Muigai called for more sensitization of members of the public on matters AJS.
She thanked all those who played role in making the AJS Open Day successful.
“The AJS Open Day was basically a platform to bring together community members and other stakeholders so that they can understand the work of AJS and strides made. I want to thank all the stakeholders for making this day success,” she stated.
Sentiments echoed by Mr. Sebastian Menza from UNFAO.
He pointed out that there is need for more collaboration on matters justice.
“Matters access to justice calls for a collaboration among stakeholders,” he said.
Professor Christine Cimini from University of Washington School of Law who is in Kenya to learn more on matters Alternative Justice Systems, lauded the mechanisms in Kenya towards access to justice.
Mr. Tom Mboya from Gap-Link International pointed out that Nakuru being the latest city, means more conflicts will be recorded, hence AJS comes in hand.