Turkana's AJS seeks funding and support to clear 78 pending cases and improve access to community-based justice. [File, Standard]
The Alternative Justice System (AJS) is seeking increased support to address 78 cases awaiting resolution in Turkana County.
Local officials have called for greater government backing and increased public awareness to strengthen community-based justice mechanisms.
The leaders highlighted that Turkana’s vast geographical expanse, limited transportation options, insufficient resources, and the lack of a dedicated AJS budget are significant barriers to accessing justice.
These concerns were articulated during a week-long AJS training and familiarisation programme that gathered panellists from Naduat, Lokichar, Kakuma, and Lodwar.
Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Turkana County Government, the training focused on the AJS framework, the roles of panellists, and practical dispute-resolution approaches at the community level.
By the programme's end, panellists elected John Lotir as chairman and Betty Lorogoi as deputy chairperson.
Samwel Emanman, representing the Turkana County Council of Elders, praised the initiative, noting that it had made the AJS office more accessible and easier to understand for the public.