Nakuru Alternative Justice System Practitioners and other stakeholders are working on coming up with a reviewed County AJS Action Plan and Model.
This is a review of the The Nakuru County Action Plan for Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) local framework to implement Kenya’s national AJS policy that was launched in May 2022 whose timeline lapsed.
Speaking in Nakuru on Thursday October 30, 2025 during validation workshop convened by SPEAK Kenya in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (UNFAO) supported by European Union through UNDP Amkeni, Head of Secretariat National Steering Committee- NaSCI-AJS Jemimah Aluda reiterated the importance of the County Action Plan and Model.
According to her the plan launched in 2022 had timelines expired in May 2025 hence there was need for review.
She pointed out that the new model will go a long way in helping make justice more accessible, efficient, and affordable for all residents by supporting dispute resolution outside of formal courts, owing to the fact that Nakuru has had several cases referred to AJS.
According to her there were several gaps in the previous action plan and model among them lack of involvement of learning institutions and CSOs, and community involvement through media engagement which have now been ironed out.
“With this new model and CAP, we want to ensure more doors towards accessing justice,” stated Ms Jemimah Aluda.
She lauded Judiciary under the leadership of Chief Justice Martha Koome for the support on the same.
Ms Jemimah also used the moment to call on the County Government of Nakuru to work closely with AJS in ensuring justice for the people.
“To the County Government of Nakuru, access to justice has implications replica to the people and therefore the county should work closely with AJS in ensuring justice is served,” she said.
Jemimah was however quick to point out that the community has embraced the AJS owing to the fact that most people prefer the same than going to the courts which they feel take a lot of time, tedious and a times there is no win-win situation as compared to AJS.
Project Monitoring and Evaluation OfficerSPEAK Kenya ( Strengthening People’s Engagement and Advocacy in Kenya), Ms Gladys Muigai pointed out that Nakuru county is the pioneer of AJS.
She reiterated that the CAP and the new model help support the implementation of AJS in Nakuru County and ensure so many disputes and conflicts are solved out of court.
“This comes in to help address barriers that have been there in accessing justice especially for women and marginalized Kenyans,” she said.
She called on County Government of Nakuru to support AJS by giving the practitioners platform and recognizing them in their forums and events to highlight what they are doing in terms of access to justice.
It should be noted that SPEAK Kenya has played key role in matters AJS by training paralegals who play key in resolving disputes at grassroot level.
“The future of AJS is that we see a country where many people will understand and embrace it hence many cases will be resolved. We encourage everyone in Nakuru and Kenya as a whole to embrace AJS as recognized by Constitution Article 159 (c),” stated Gladys.
The plan focuses on mechanisms like mediation, community-based paralegals, and Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) Suites.
Religious leaders are also lauding the plan and model.
Secretary Supreme Council of Muslims Nakuru County Mr.Abdulkadir Adan Juma who is also a member AJS working group states that AJS has addressed numerous cases and disputes with focus on justice.
“AJS has helped solve matters that could take more time in courts and has eased access to justice without more expenses,” he said.
Despite AJS practitioners playing key role in addressing disputes and conflicts, their welfare has never been looked into.
The religious leader calls on Judiciary and county Government to step in and ensure that the AJS practitioners’ welfare is addressed.