Kiambu County, bordering Nairobi, has experienced rapid urban growth, soaring property values, and dense population expansion over recent decades. These factors have elevated land into one of the most critical and high-stakes assets in the region.
Consequently Judicial officers and legal practitioners in Kiambu County have launched a week-long Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) initiative aimed at clearing the massive backlog of long-pending court cases, particularly those involving land ownership and succession.
The joint program utilizes both the Alternative Justice System (AJS) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) frameworks. Over the course of the week, lawyers and judicial officers across court precincts in Kiambu County will directly engage with applicants and defendants to help opposing parties reach mutually agreed-upon settlements outside traditional trial procedures.
Speaking during the launch at the Kiambu Law Courts, Beth Fundi, Chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Kiambu Chapter, highlighted that collaboration among key legal stakeholders is essential for making justice accessible, convenient, and timely—provided both parties consent to mediation.
Ms. Fundi emphasized that land-related disputes represent the largest share of cases currently congesting Kiambu courts. She noted that succession issues—where descendants struggle to legally inherit and manage ancestral land—are the primary drivers of these prolonged court battles.
Through this targeted intervention, in stakeholders aim to establish long-term mechanisms that significantly reduce land litigation, foster community reconciliation, and unlock land that has remained idle due to unresolved legal battles.
On his part Justice Bahati Mwamuye of the Kiambu High Court said the launch of the exercise was an eyeponer meant to assist even the court systems in quick delivery of Justice.
However he was quick to point out that the Arbitration exercise was not open for murder cases.
This he said was a serious matter where somebody had lost life and could not be negotiated unlike other cases where maybe a person had harmed another, this saying we’re issues that could be discussed and solved.
According to those in attendance it was a great opportunity they had been accorded where they will be able to utilize the days in solving some of the highlighted cases.
