On Thursday, 5th March 2026, the University of Embu School of Law held a landmark Public Lecture titled “Justice Beyond the Courtroom: Re-imagining Law through Alternative Justice Systems.” The event served as a critical precursor to the upcoming AJS Conference 2026, bringing together legal minds to explore the evolving landscape of dispute resolution in Kenya. The session was chaired by the Dean of the School of Law, Dr. Johana Kambo, and featured Hon. Justice Richard Mwongo, EBS, Presiding Judge of the Embu High Court, as the keynote presenter.
Building on the foundational concepts shared in the previous lecture by Hon. Justice Prof. Joel Ngugi, Justice Mwongo provided a deep dive into the Constitutional Paradigm for AJS. He emphasized that under Article 252, state organs and independent commissions are mandated to promote AJS, a requirement rooted in the Preamble and Article 11, which recognize Kenya’s cultural and religious diversity as the nation’s foundation. Justice Mwongo argued that AJS is essential to fulfilling the Article 48 right to access justice, offering a “multi-door” spectrum that effectively handles both civil and criminal matters, including complex constitutional crises.
A highlight of the lecture was the exploration of the Njuri Ncheke System as a practical application of traditional justice mechanisms within the modern legal framework. The discussion, enriched by insights from David Njoroge, FCIArb, a member of the National Steering Committee on AJS, underscored that AJS is not a secondary system but a holistic approach to justice that aligns with Kenya’s transformative Constitution. This lecture further cements the School of Law’s role in leading the academic discourse on people-centered justice as the university prepares for the national AJS Conference in June.
Hon Justice Richard Mwongo giving a public lecture on ‘Justice Beyond the Courtroom: Re-imagining Law through Alternative Justice Systems.’
Discussant Adv. David Njoroge addressing the Students, on-looking Dr. Johana Kambo, Dean SoL (Centre) and Hon. Justice Richard Mwongo.
