In executing our mission and striving towards our vision, CMSJ is committed to upholding the following principles in all its activities:

1. Professionalism – Delivering high-quality, expert dispute resolution services.
2. Solution-Oriented Approach – Creating innovative, cost-effective, and practical solutions to disputes.
3. Practicality – Committed to hands-on training, experiential learning, and continuous improvement.
4. Trust – Safeguarding the confidentiality, privacy, and integrity of all parties involved.
5. Integrity – Upholding honesty, transparency, and the highest ethical standards.
6. Research-Driven Practice – Leveraging innovative research to enhance dispute resolution systems and outcomes.

1. Position CMSJ as a leading mediation hub for dispute resolution locally, regionally, and internationally, including certification-based ADR training programs.
2. Lead community outreach initiatives that promote awareness of conflict resolution and empower communities to resolve disputes amicably.
3. Promote ADR scholarship through integration of Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) into legal education, research, and academic discourse.
4. Establish a structured network of strategic partners and stakeholders to support CMSJ’s mandate and sustainability.

CMSJ delivers its mandate through a range of key initiatives, including:

1. Teaching & Training

We offer academic instruction and professional training in Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) within legal education. This includes certification courses in:

• Negotiation
• Mediation
• Arbitration

2. Research & Publications

We conduct research and publish knowledge products on AJS/ADR, including platforms such as the Sawia Blog, which supports academic discourse and thought leadership.

3. Mediation Clinics & Community Outreach

We run practical mediation clinics and community-based programmes aimed at improving access to justice and resolving disputes at the grassroots level.

4. Partnerships & Collaboration

We foster strategic partnerships with institutions, organisations, and stakeholders committed to advancing consensual and restorative dispute resolution mechanisms.

According to the 2017 Justice Needs and Satisfaction Report, more than 80% of justice seekers in Kenya do not obtain adequate resolution through the formal court system. This reflects the limitations of litigation in addressing deeply rooted historical, socio-economic, cultural, and political disputes.

In recognition of these realities, Article 159(2)(c) of the Constitution of Kenya affirms Alternative Dispute Resolution—including traditional mechanisms—as a legitimate form of justice grounded in the will of the people.

Within this constitutional framework, the Centre for Multiple Systems of Justice (CMSJ) plays a critical bridging role between formal justice institutions and community-based dispute resolution systems. It promotes Alternative Justice Systems (AJS) and Traditional Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (TDRMs) as accessible, consensual, and restorative pathways that complement the formal judiciary.

CMSJ advances this mandate through:

• Training students and practitioners
• Engaging communities in conflict resolution
• Producing policy-relevant research and scholarship

Through these efforts, CMSJ strengthens access to justice, reduces court congestion, and contributes to sustainable justice reform in Kenya and across Africa.