“ALTERNATIVE JUSTICE” : a play. Scripted by: Okoth Opiyo, Directed by: Okoth Opiyo.
ALTERNATIVE JUSTICE.
On Friday 12th July 2024, The Judiciary of Kenya officially launched Kisumu Chapter of the Alternative Justice System (AJS) at Mama Grace Onyango Cultural and Social Centre, Kisumu presided over by the Supreme Court Judge Smokin Wanjala, the occasion was graced by Kisumu County Governor, Anyang' Nyong'o , Deputy Governor Mathews Owili, among other judiciary officials and Kisumu County Government officials.
Misango Arts Ensemble staged a play tittled “ "ALTERNATIVE JUSTICE."
The play was scripted/written by Okoth Opiyo. and;
Directed by: Okoth Opiyo.
Co-director: Akech Obat Masira.
This is a play that sensitizes and encourages people to amicably solve civil cases by hearing and determining these cases at the community level.
The play is about a land dispute involving a polygamous family of a deceased man; his three wives where the first wife is barren and his two brothers.
The family amidst the land conflict seeks court intervention into the matter and court directs that the matter br heard and determined at the community level paving way for the subdivision of the land.
In the play, I acted the role of a community mediator while Kennedy Odoh acted the role of the judge.
The play received critical acclaim and was highly applauded by Judge Smokin Wanjala, Prof. Peter Anyang' Nyong'o and majority of the speakers.
Alternative Justice System increases access to justice by the citizens of Kenya while relieving them of the expensive costs of law suits too. This also reduces the backlog of cases in courts since courts are already overwhelmed with many cases, which has lengthened the time a case gets to be determine, delaying access to justice.