EMBU, Kenya — Chief Justice Martha Koome has urged African judiciaries to expand access to justice by integrating traditional and community-based dispute resolution mechanisms into formal legal systems, arguing that justice should be measured by its impact on people and communities rather than court statistics alone.
Speaking at the opening of the Fourth National Conference on Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) at the University of Embu, Koome told judicial leaders from across the continent that Africa’s justice systems must evolve to become more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens.
The conference brought together more than 12 chief justices and senior judicial officials from various African countries to discuss people-centred approaches to justice and the growing role of Alternative Justice Systems.
Koome acknowledged the importance of conventional performance indicators such as case clearance rates, backlog reduction, and the speed of resolving disputes. However, she argued that these metrics do not always reflect whether justice has truly been achieved from the perspective of those seeking redress.
“Traditionally, justice systems have relied on indicators such as case filings, case clearance rates, backlog reduction, and the speed of case resolution. These measures remain important, but they do not always capture the full experience of justice from the perspective of the people we serve,” she said.
The Chief Justice called for the development of integrated justice frameworks that combine formal courts, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Alternative Justice Systems, restorative justice, and community dialogue. According to her, such models are better suited to addressing conflicts while preserving social harmony and human dignity.
She challenged justice sector stakeholders to rethink how success is measured, suggesting that justice outcomes should also be assessed through restored relationships, strengthened trust, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
“What if success is measured not only by the number of disputes resolved, but also by the number of relationships restored? What if justice is measured not just through efficiency, but also through reconciliation, trust, social cohesion, and human dignity?” Koome posed.
During the event, she officially launched the Embu Alternative Justice Systems Centre and AJS registries for Embu, Siakago, and Runyenjes law courts. She described the initiative as a significant milestone in broadening access to justice and strengthening community-based dispute resolution.
Koome emphasized that Alternative Justice Systems are not inferior to formal courts but constitute an important component of African jurisprudence rooted in indigenous knowledge, culture, and community values.
Her remarks align with Article 159(2)(c) of the Constitution of Kenya, which encourages the promotion of alternative forms of dispute resolution, including reconciliation, mediation, arbitration, and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms.
Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu called for stronger collaboration among the Judiciary, county governments, academic institutions, civil society organisations, and development partners to ensure justice reforms deliver tangible social benefits.
Meanwhile, Mumba Malila urged judges across Africa to champion alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, arguing that they can ease pressure on courts, expand access to justice, and foster peaceful conflict resolution.
