Stakeholders drawn from Loita and Mara wards in Narok county have been sensitised on the Alternative Justice System (AJS) to help resolve the surging land cases in court.
Jemimah Aluda, an expert in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), who led the three-day workshop held in a Narok hotel, said their aim was to impart knowledge to the residents on the available alternative ways of resolving land cases instead of relying on the court system only.
The stakeholders were taken through the AJS requirements and encouraged to practise resolving their issues this way to avoid incurring a lot of cost and wasting time when following up land matters in the law courts.
“Those sitting in the AJS to resolve an issue should be men and women of integrity. They are not allowed to receive any form of gifts from either of their complainants or show favouritism in whatever manner,” added the advocate.
The land cases are better resolved through the AJS as community members understand the history of the land better than magistrates and judges sitting in the court of law.
Zipporah Muthama from the Hakijamii organisation said the forum aimed at enhancing inclusivity and participatory land and natural resource governance in Narok.
She reiterated that AJS promotes cohesion, peaceful co-existence and growth in a society as issues are resolved fast and in a way that satisfies the whole community.
The Narok Natural Resources Chairman Nicholas Ole Mulelo said the three-day workshop was an eye-opener to the residents who have lodged many land cases in court.
Mary Dapash from the Mara area called on young people to use the AJS formula to resolve issues instead of holding demonstrations that sometimes do not bear any fruit.
Maseki Mepuki, an elder in the Loita area, lauded the forum, saying the court procedure comes with a huge cost, hatred and disunity in the community, as cases are resolved by people who are not part of the community.
Ole Mepuki recalled that in the past, issues in the community were resolved by the council of elders, whose decision is highly respected in the society.
The AJS was launched in Narok in 2024 by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu.
By Ann Salaton
