Chief Justice Martha Koome has invited church leaders to partner with the judiciary in providing alternative justice to reduce case backlogs.
According to Koome, churches play a key role in providing alternative justice and its nearness to the public will help alleviate the judicial burdens
Koome says the partnership will see church leaders domiciled in courts to provide spiritual nourishment to the litigants
While referencing the stride made since the launch of the the first autonomous Alternative Justice Systems Centre in Africa at Imani Mall in Nakuru County Martha Koome said the the Centre is a collaboration of the Nakuru Christian Leaders Platform, the Nakuru County Government and the Judiciary.
The CJ said that the AJS Centre was the first of its kind in the entire region and an innovation that will be immensely useful to the communities in Nakuru County.
“By establishing this Centre, you are living the biblical calling to stand firm and true as apostles of justice. You are calling attention on the people to become champions of justice by exercising their dispute resolution agency, thereby enhancing peace and cohesion among our people and within our communities”. Said the CJ
CJ Koome noted that the establishment of the centre was a testament to the success of the Social Transformation through Access to Justice blueprint. This, she noted, is a recognition that mediation and reconciliation processes, including those conducted within the alternative justice mechanisms, are central for the resolution of disputes given that they are collaborative processes that foster long-term relationships.
“This AJS Centre will contribute to the creation of a just social order, prioritise reconciliation and foster peaceful co-existence in our communities”. Said Justice Koome
Justice Koome acknowledged that the justice system has in the past not always been fully conscious of the environmental impact of its operations. Hence, the quest to embed sustainability within the justice system requires a renewed commitment to change and a concerted effort towards efficient and effective administration of justice.
She was speaking during the launch of a Strategic Guiding Framework for Greening Kenya’s Justice System.
While welcoming the proposal NCCK secretary general Rev. Canon Chris Kinyanjui Kamau has noted that capacity building for the men of the cloth will be an enabler in reducing case backlog arguing that justice delayed is justice denied.