Africa’s senior judges gathered in Nairobi today Friday June 19, 2026, for a summit focused on how courts across the continent can resolve disputes more quickly and with less strain on formal systems.
The third Africa Chief Justices’ Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Summit brought together judicial leaders and justice sector stakeholders to discuss ways of easing court backlogs through mediation, arbitration and other out-of-court processes.
Opening the meeting, William Ruto said justice systems must adapt to meet rising demand and reduce long delays that continue to frustrate citizens.
“We must make justice more accessible, faster, and practical for the people it serves,” he said, calling for wider adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms across African judiciaries.
He added that expanding ADR would help courts focus on more complex cases while giving citizens quicker and often less costly options to settle disputes.
The summit is part of a growing push across Africa for what officials describe as a “”multi-door justice system, one that allows cases to be resolved through different channels depending on their nature.
Martha Koome and other senior judicial officials attended the opening ceremony, where discussions centred on reforming court processes and strengthening cooperation between judiciaries on the continent.
Delegates said persistent case backlogs and lengthy proceedings remain a major barrier to access to justice in many countries, making ADR an increasingly important part of judicial reform efforts.
The summit continues with technical sessions on mediation frameworks, institutional reforms, and strategies to increase public trust in alternative justice systems.
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