Cases worth Sh14billion have been resolved through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism saving litigants from lengthy and costly court processes for the last five years, the judiciary has revealed.
This has also ensured the money has been released back into the economy.
Through the Mediation Accreditation Committee (MAC) chairman High Court judge Justice George Odunga, the Judiciary said 5,218 out of 9,057 cases were resolved through mediation.
However, the number of cases settled does not include those resolved under the family division, including those involving children.
Justice Odunga spoke as he led members of the committee in a virtual meeting with Chief Justice Martha Koome said settlement of cases through mediation stands at 52.5 per cent.
“It is however worth noting that the above figure does not reflect the many family and children cases that have been resolved by the mediators thereby mending and restoring relationships,” Justice Odunga told the CJ.
The Mediation Accreditation Committee (MAC), was formally launched in 2015.
It draws representation from the Law Society of Kenya, the office of the Attorney General, Law Society of Kenya, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, International Commission of Jurists (Kenya Chapter), Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, Institute of Certified Public Secretaries, Kenya Bankers Association, Federation of Kenya Employers and the Central Organisation of Trade Unions.
The committee is mandated to determine the criteria for accreditation of mediators, prepare rules for certification of mediators, maintain a register of qualified mediators, enforce a code of ethics for mediators and set up appropriate training criteria for mediators.
Since its launch, the committee has been able to review over 2,000 applications and accredited 863 mediators.
