On 21st August 2025, Kituo Cha Sheria, in partnership with the National Steering Committee on the Implementation of Alternative Justice Systems (NaSCI-AJS) and with support from GIZ – German International Cooperation, Kenya, participated in the official launch of the Mombasa County Action Plan on AJS and the AJS Suit, the 11th of its kind in the country.
The launch was hosted by the County Government of Mombasa under the leadership of H.E. Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir, and graced by high-level leaders including the Chief Justice, Hon. Martha Koome, Hon. Justice (Prof.) Joel Mwaura Ngugi, Chair of NaSCI-AJS, our Executive Director, Dr. Wambua Kituku, and Peter Kiama, Executive Director of Haki Yetu. The event also brought together paralegals, elders, community leaders, and grassroots representatives.
As an institution, Kituo Cha Sheria has been at the forefront of supporting the establishment of AJS Suits, designed to ease the backlog in the Judiciary by leveraging local knowledge and community-based mechanisms for dispute resolution. These Suits offer safe spaces for dialogue, reconciliation, and culturally rooted solutions to disputes—particularly those involving land and family matters that frequently overwhelm the courts.
The newly launched Mombasa AJS Suit will be run by trained paralegals, many of whom have undergone a series of specialized trainings by Kituo Cha Sheria on various elements of the law, community mediation, and the boundaries of AJS practice. These trainings equip paralegals with practical skills to handle disputes in a fair, restorative, and culturally sensitive manner, while also helping them understand the limitations of AJS—for example, that serious criminal matters cannot be handled through community mediation and must be referred to the formal justice system. By anchoring the Suit in the hands of trusted local paralegals, the model ensures both accessibility and compliance with the law.
In his remarks, Dr. Wambua Kituku emphasized that “The journey of access to justice does not end with a launch; it continues every day in the lives of the people we serve.” He underscored the fact that the Mombasa AJS Action Plan was developed through collaboration with the Judiciary, county government, elders, and community leaders to ensure it reflects the lived realities of citizens.
Kituo also raised important concerns that need to be addressed as AJS continues to grow in Mombasa and across Kenya. These include the mental wellbeing of AJS practitioners, who often carry the emotional burden of conflict resolution; the need for greater public awareness and trust-building, to enhance confidence in AJS processes; and the localisation of AJS Suits across all six sub-counties of Mombasa, to ensure equity and inclusivity in community-centered justice.
Through support from GIZ and collaboration with partners, Kituo Cha Sheria continues to train paralegals, build the capacity of community mediators, and sensitize citizens to embrace AJS as a restorative, people-centered approach to justice.
The launch marked a historic milestone for Mombasa County, embedding restorative justice within local governance structures and reaffirming the shared commitment of all partners to ensure that justice is accessible, dignified, and harmonious for all, especially the most vulnerable.
By; Rony Alal