The Judicial Training Institute (JTI) on Friday concluded a two-day intensive hands-on training aimed at equipping Judicial Officers, Mediators, and advocates with the skills necessary to fast-track resolution of commercial disputes pending before the Commercial Division of the High Court.
The training, which marks the beginning of a comprehensive 40-hour accreditation programme, is a key component of the Judiciary’s strategy to address the growing backlog of high-value commercial cases, many of which have been pending for over five years. These unresolved disputes spanning sectors such as banking, taxation, insolvency, trade, and insurance—represent trillions of shillings
Speaking at the close of the training, Justice Richard Buteera, Deputy Chief Justice Emeritus, urged participants to prioritise tangible results.
“This training is not just an academic exercise,” he said. “We must demonstrate outcomes. The Judiciary invests in these programmes with the expectation that mediators will deliver measurable impact each quarter.”
Justice Buteera noted that successful participants will be accredited as court mediators following assessments by the JTI faculty. He also commended JTI for delivering the training directly at the courts rather than requiring participants to travel to the Institute.
Justice Andrew Khaukha, Executive Director of the JTI, echoed the call for action-oriented results and expressed gratitude to the facilitators for their dedication. He shared that Chief Justice Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny – Dollo will formally commission the newly trained mediators and renew appointments for existing ones upon his return.
Justice Khaukha also recognised Justice Buteera as Chairperson of Court Accredited Mediators, and commended the Chief Justice’s visionary leadership in strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as part of the Judiciary’s broader transformation agenda.
Justice Ann Mugenyi, Head of the Commercial Division, hailed the relevance and practicality of the training. She announced that the Division had resolved to designate every Thursday as a mediation day, with additional sessions scheduled fortnightly each quarter to boost caseload resolution.
“We are optimistic that these measures will generate immediate impact,” she said, encouraging participants to embrace the STAR mediation approach introduced during the training.
Day Two of the training focused on the practical application of ADR principles. Justice Khaukha led a session on the “Dos and Don’ts” of mediation, offering guidance on ethical conduct and procedural
expectations for court-accredited mediators.
Retired Solicitor General Mr. Francis Atoke introduced the STAR mediation model a structured five-stage process consisting of Situation, Tasks, Actions, and Results outlining its five key steps: convening, opening, communication, negotiation, and closing.
Ms. Barbara Kilei, Country Director for the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), delivered a detailed presentation on arbitration, with emphasis on interpreting and adjudicating arbitration clauses within commercial contracts.
Participants took part in breakout sessions featuring case studies on arbitration, allowing for collaborative problem-solving, peer learning, and practical reflection.
The 40-hour training is being delivered in a blended format both physical and virtual and is tailored around specific categories of backlog cases. It is designed to provide participants with practical dispute resolution skills and strengthen the Judiciary’s capacity to handle commercial matters efficiently.
