The judiciary has launched the nationwide Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) Service Week, running from October 26 to October 28, 2026.

In Uasin Gishu, the event was held at the Eldoret High Court grounds and presided over by Justice Charles Yano, the area Lands and Environment Court judge.

The ceremony drew a wide range of key stakeholders, including members of the clergy, the Kalenjin Council of Elders, civil society organisations, paralegal officers, the Uasin Gishu AJS Committee and officials from the Judiciary.

Held under the theme ‘Culture and Innovation in Accelerating Social Transformation through Access to Justice’, the launch was highly commended by attendees for championing community-based conflict resolution.

Speaking during the event, Justice Yano noted that AJS is a constitutional creation under Article 159(2)(c) of the 2010 Constitution, designed to provide an alternative to traditional court systems that have long suffered from backlogs and an inadequate number of judges.

He highlighted that AJS gives parties an opportunity to resolve disputes amicably by adopting a win-win strategy, contrasting it with formal court proceedings where one party wins and another loses.

“We have experienced a reduction in backlog and court cases in our courts due to the AJS. It has also fostered a good relationship among the people in the society, as the parties mutually agree on the ruling of the AJS,” Yano stated.

He acknowledged that while the system faced initial resistance from those who believed formal litigation was always best, it has been widely embraced over time.

For instance, in his own docket, land succession disputes, which typically take a long time to conclude, are increasingly referred to AJS, significantly easing court backlogs.

High Court Judge Martha Mutuku applauded AJS as it marks its 10-year anniversary, noting its contribution to the speedy resolution of cases.

“AJS has also helped reduce costs and time taken and promote cohesion among members of the public,” she remarked, while clarifying that AJS handles a wide variety of disputes, though it remains limited regarding children’s rights and gender-based violence cases.

Adding to these sentiments, Daniel Kiptoo, a lawyer and AJS mediator, emphasised that the system has successfully expedited long-standing disputes, including property succession cases dating back to the 1980s.

He explained that settlements reached through mediation can be adopted into court orders, reinforcing the objective of mending broken relationships through a win-win approach.

Furthermore, North Rift Law Society of Kenya Chairperson Oscar Oduor affirmed that AJS is a constitutionally anchored framework that is here to stay.

He praised the Judiciary’s support and clarified that AJS does not encroach upon the work of the LSK, noting instead that it plays a vital role in clearing case backlogs, especially land disputes in Uasin Gishu, where local elders retain deep historical ties to original land tract owners.

By Brian Seronei and Purity Nafula