Uasin Gishu County Governor Jackson Mandago has called on the Judiciary to make use of village elders in the establishment of court-annexed mediation.
Speaking during the official launch of the Court-Annexed Mediation Registry at Eldoret Law Courts on Wednesday, Mandago said the process will work as an alternative dispute resolution method.
"In Uasin Gishu County alone, we have 2,800 village elders. When you roll out training and sensitisation, please involve village elders. They are key actors in meditation itself and they will guarantee sensitisation in the grassroots," said Mandago.
His comments were in response to frustrations expressed by the Law Society of Kenya, Eldoret Chapter chair Mr Zephania Yego who had expressed concerns that the public tends not to trust mediations and out of court settlements.
The governor directed his administration to move with speed and use this process to solve pending matters that otherwise hinder urban planning and use of public resources.
Mandago further urged residents to embrace mediation especially in solving cases touching on child support.
Milimani High Court Family Division Deputy Registrar Caroline Kendagor said that court-annexed mediation has enhanced the ease of doing business by settling civil disputes thereby releasing monies into the economy.
"Since court-annexed Mediation began we have unlocked Sh4 billion held up in litigation into the country's economy. Most of these were family disputes over property, as well as disagreements in business contracts," said Kendagor.