Alternative Justice system in Isiolo reduces backlog of cases

Isiolo Law Courts Chief Magistrate Lucy Mutai has praised the Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) saying it has reduced the backlog of cases.

Speaking during a two-day stakeholder's forum Mutai said the AJS platform where elders hear and resolve disputes has reduced the number of persons being held at the remand.

"As a way of improving the efficiency of the AJS, two suites will be established to provide a good venue for the elders who have already been trained on justice systems to sit and hear matters brought before them," she said.

The magistrate noted that the smaller suite will be used when handling family matters that need confidentiality, while the second suite will be a larger room where larger groups will be accommodated, for hearings on land matters and other disputes.

Mutai revealed that the project was funded through a joint effort between the Judiciary, Isiolo county government, and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).

The AJS suite and the County Action Plan are expected to be complete by July and Chief Justice Martha Koome will officially unveil them at the Isiolo Law Court Grounds.

Head of Secretariat at The National Steering Committee on Implementation of AJS Jemimah Aluda said that the adoption of AJS has played a key role in the administration of justice over the years.

"AJS is effectively resolving disputes that could otherwise take years in a court, while enabling the magistrates to focus only on matters of a higher criminal magnitude that cannot be settled by the elders, such as murder and defilement," she said.