CJ Koome Unveils Bomet Alternative Justice Systems Initiative to Strengthen People-Centred Access to Justice
BOMET, Kenya, Aug 3 – Chief Justice Martha Koome has unveiled a comprehensive Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) framework for Bomet County, reaffirming the Judiciary’s commitment to expanding access to justice through community-based, inclusive and people-centred dispute resolution.
Speaking during the launch of the Bomet County Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) County Action Plan, the Bomet County AJS Model, the Bomet AJS Suite and the Bomet and Sotik AJS Registries, Justice Koome said the initiatives embody the Judiciary’s vision of Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) by ensuring that justice is accessible, affordable, timely and responsive to the needs of all Kenyans and described the initiatives as significant milestones in Kenya’s justice transformation journey.
“The true measure of justice is not the location of a courtroom, but every person’s ability to obtain fair, timely and dignified resolution of disputes,” the Chief Justice said, noting that justice must remain people-centred and responsive to the realities of the communities it serves.
She reiterated that the Judiciary’s multi-door approach to justice recognizes that while courts remain the guardians of the Constitution, different disputes require different pathways for resolution.
Mediation, dialogue, reconciliation and restorative justice mechanisms, she said, complement formal court processes by providing effective and culturally appropriate solutions anchored in constitutional values and human rights.
Justice Koome observed that the Constitution recognizes Alternative Justice Systems as legitimate dispute resolution mechanisms, provided they uphold the Bill of Rights and the rule of law.
Further, She emphasized that strengthening AJS expands not replaces the formal justice system by providing more avenues for citizens to resolve disputes efficiently and peacefully.
The Bomet County AJS Action Plan was developed through an inclusive and evidence-based process that examined the county’s unique justice needs.
A Justice Needs Survey identified land, succession and boundary disputes as the most prevalent conflicts while revealing strong public confidence in community-based justice mechanisms and the need for stronger linkages with the formal justice system.
The Chief Justice noted that the Bomet County AJS Model creates a coordinated justice ecosystem that brings together community elders, religious leaders, accredited mediators, public institutions, civil society organizations and the Judiciary to deliver fair, efficient and sustainable dispute resolution.
She further said the Bomet AJS Suite and the Bomet and Sotik AJS Registries will institutionalize Alternative Justice Systems by serving as centres for coordination, referrals, documentation, public engagement and continuous learning, while strengthening accountability, consistency and public confidence.
Justice Koome emphasized that Alternative Justice Systems must always operate within constitutional safeguards and must never be used to resolve serious criminal offences such as sexual violence and defilement, which belong within the formal criminal justice system.
She commended the Bomet Court Users Committee, the National Steering Committee on the Implementation of the Alternative Justice Systems Policy chaired by Hon. Justice (Prof.) Joel Ngugi, the County Government of Bomet, development partners, religious and cultural leaders, civil society organizations and all stakeholders whose collaboration made the initiative possible.
The Chief Justice also reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to partnering with county governments to expand judicial infrastructure and establish court stations in underserved areas, ensuring that judicial services are brought closer to the people.
Calling on residents to embrace Alternative Justice Systems where appropriate and actively participate in Court Users Committees, Justice Koome said building an accessible, inclusive and responsive justice system requires collaboration between the Judiciary, government institutions and communities.
The launch marks another important step in the Judiciary’s efforts to deliver people-centred justice, strengthen peaceful coexistence and advance the constitutional promise of accessible, inclusive and responsive justice for every Kenyan.
