Congestion of cases in Makueni courts is expected to reduce greatly, Makueni High Court Presiding Judge Teresia Matheka has said.
Judge Matheka said this on Thursday after she officially launched court annexed mediation in the area where some cases will be referred to for arbitration with a mediator who is accredited by the court.
Lady Justice Matheka further said that people will also save time, money and bring reconciliation among the litigants involved in this mediation.
“When litigants sit and talk, they get a solution acceptable to both parties besides saving time and money as the arbitration is supposed to take 60 days only,” said Judge Matheka at the Makueni High Court.
“When the two parties have found a lasting solution, they bring the case to court that issues orders on the same,” she added.
She disclosed that some of the cases that will be referred to the court annexed mediation are matrimonial property disputes, civil suits, environment and land disputes and employment and labour disputes.
“We have already trained clerical officers on how to screen cases but the Judges and magistrates have to give their commendation besides lawyers of the litigants,” she noted.
Further she said that the establishment of the court annexed mediation is the fulfilment of Article 159 (c) that provides for alternative forms of dispute resolution including reconciliation, mediation, arbitration and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms.
Speaking at the same event, a representative of Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Eastern Region Wilfred Kithuka welcomed the idea saying that once people agree, there will be no appeals in courts.
“We welcome the idea. Once people agree, there is no room for appeals,” said Kithuka.
During the event, a Registry for mediation was opened besides several rooms where mediators will be mediating their cases.
Earlier the Court Users Committee (CUC) and members of the public carried out a procession in Wote town in an effort to sensitize the public on the creation of the court annexed mediation in the county.
Present at the launch included the Makueni Environment and Land judge Lady Justice Teresia Muingi, departmental heads from prosecution, police, prisons and accredited mediators and chiefs and their assistants among others.
By Patrick Nyakundi
