President William Ruto has called on African nations to strengthen their judicial systems and embrace homegrown solutions to legal disputes, arguing that the continent must increasingly rely on its own courts, jurists, and institutions to deliver justice.

Speaking on Friday, June 19, 2026, during the Africa Chief Justices’ Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Summit in Nairobi, Ruto urged African countries to reduce dependence on foreign legal forums and instead build confidence in domestic and continental judicial mechanisms.

“Let us resolve African cases in African courts by African jurists and African institutions. And by the way, that is not protectionism; that is sovereignty,” Ruto said.

Beyond the question of judicial sovereignty, President Ruto has challenged African legal institutions to rethink how justice is delivered. He argued that the effectiveness of courts should not be measured by procedural complexity or legal technicalities but by the impact their decisions have on ordinary citizens.

“The future of justice in Africa must be people-centred rather than process-centred. Citizens do not measure justice by the complexity of processes or legal jargon; they measure it by three simple questions: Were they heard? Was the matter resolved fairly? And did the outcome restore their dignity in time?” he said.

According to Ruto, justice systems across Africa must evolve to prioritise accessibility, fairness, efficiency, and timely dispute resolution if they are to maintain public trust.

ADR as tool for faster justice

The summit brought together chief justices, judges, legal practitioners, and policymakers from across Africa to discuss the role of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in improving access to justice.

Ruto noted that ADR mechanisms such as mediation, arbitration, and negotiation have become increasingly important in reducing pressure on courts while providing faster and less adversarial ways of resolving disputes.

Building strong African institutions

The president’s call for African courts to handle African disputes also speaks to broader efforts to strengthen continental institutions and reduce reliance on external systems.

By promoting confidence in African legal expertise and institutions, Ruto argued that the continent can better safeguard its interests, shape its own legal standards, and ensure that justice reflects African realities and priorities.

His message resonated with the summit’s broader theme of enhancing commercial justice and accelerating development through efficient, accessible, and people-centred legal systems.

In calling for African courts, African jurists, and African institutions to take greater ownership of the continent’s legal affairs, Ruto positioned judicial sovereignty as a critical pillar of Africa’s development and self-determination in the twenty-first century.