The Judges of the Court of Appeal held an in-depth engagement to deliberate on the full implementation of Court Annexed Mediation at the appellate level.

The forum was convened by the Judiciary Steering Committee on Mediation and facilitated by Justice Ann Claire Williams (Retired) and Professor Damali Peterman, both distinguished experts in mediation.

During the meeting, the Judges reviewed the progress of the ongoing pilot at the Nairobi Court of Appeal Civil Division, where appeals have already been screened and referred to mediation. The pilot has demonstrated the potential of mediation to ease case backlog and provide parties with faster resolution of disputes.

The forum resolved to expedite the finalization of the Court of Appeal Annexed Mediation Rules, which are currently undergoing public participation. Once completed, these rules will provide a clear framework for the effective integration of mediation into appellate processes, enriched by lessons learned from the Nairobi pilot.

The Court of Appeal further resolved to roll out mediation to other appellate stations across the country upon completion of the pilot. Experiences gained from Nairobi will be incorporated into the finalized rules to ensure consistency and effectiveness.

This initiative underscores the Judiciary’s commitment to enhancing access to justice, reducing case backlog, and fostering a culture of dialogue and efficiency in the resolution of disputes.