News & Stories
Press Release
19 June 2026
CIJ Receives the People-Centred Justice Award at the Africa Chief Justices' ADR Forum in Nairobi
KENYA – From 18 to 19 June 2026, Chief Justices and retired Chief Justices from across Africa convened in Nairobi for the third Africa Chief Justices' ADR Forum. The Judiciary of Kenya hosted the Forum under the theme "A Justice System That Serves, Listens and Resolves: Advancing ADR and Alternative Justice Systems for Peace, Inclusion and Prosperity in Africa."
At the Forum, the Chandler Institute of Justice (CIJ) was awarded the People-Centred Justice Award for its contribution to supporting governments in advancing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) reforms.
A Continental Call for Judicial Investment
Opening the Forum, President William Ruto of Kenya described investment in strong, independent judiciaries as a strategic foundation for stability, trade, and economic integration. He pledged to rally African Heads of State to treat predictable judicial funding as a continental priority.
ADR as Economic Infrastructure
Kenya's Chief Justice Martha Koome argued that ADR has become an economic imperative, not only a social one. Efficient dispute resolution, she said, must be treated as "a form of economic infrastructure."
Why ADR Matters to CIJ
ADR sits at the centre of CIJ's regional law reform work. CIJ has partnered with the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices' Forum (SEACJF) on strengthening ADR and judicial reform across the region, and has supported the development of national ADR policy frameworks, including in Zambia. For CIJ, effective ADR is not a peripheral reform. It is a practical route to faster, fairer, and more affordable justice, and a direct contributor to the economic development and social mobility that sit at the heart of CIJ's mission.
Why This Matters
CIJ partners with judiciaries and governments across Southern and East Africa on legislative drafting, ADR policy, and judicial reform. The People-Centred Justice Award recognises CIJ's ongoing contribution to strengthening access to justice across the continent.
Our sincere gratitude to the Judiciary of the Republic of Kenya, the Southern and Eastern Africa Chief Justices' Forum (SEACJF), and the Africa Chief Justices' ADR Forum for their partnership.
CIJ looks forward to continuing this work with partners across the continent.
About Chandler Institute of Justice (CIJ)
Chandler Institute of Justice offers expert advisory services on law reform, delivers specialised legal training programmes, and develops innovative legislative tools and models to support transformative law reform initiatives across Africa. CIJ’s work is anchored on the belief that good laws are not only the cornerstone of just and equitable societies but powerful catalysts for economic prosperity. CIJ’s mission is to partner with African governments to drive impactful, government-led law reforms while building legal knowledge and expertise that foster good governance, sustainable economic growth, and social mobility across the continent.
