Embrace informal systems, says Willy Mutunga

Kenya: Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has called for the promotion of the informal justice system in the country.

Dr Mutunga said the the formal system (courts) should be intertwined with the informal system for a fairer and just society.

While noting that only five per cent of Kenyans take their disputes to court, Mutunga said there is need to promote out-of-court solutions, as many Kenyans rely on them.

Such forums include village elders, chief and groups like the Njuri Cheke.

The chief justice clarified his earlier call to Kenyans to embrace such forums and said, he was quoted out of context when people interpreted his statement to mean that he wanted Kenyans to go to witchdoctors.

"When families take each other other to court, they not only waste time but also sever family ties. But if such cases are handled through traditional traditional justice systems like village elders, family ties would be restored," he said.

Mutunga was speaking in Nairobi yesterday during the launch of a book titled 'The Story & Journey of Tuvuke' by the Tuvuke Initiative.

Tuvuke is a countrywide initiative with a specific focus on positive transformation of institutions of governance.

The book gives, among others, a detailed narrative about the efforts of 15 civil society organisations working towards sustainable peace in Kenya.