Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch EBS, CBS (Rtd) Judge

Lady Justice Joyce Aluoch is a law graduate from University of Nairobi and holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University in Boston, USA. She subsequently trained in ADR and is a Certified International Mediator (IMI), Accredited Mediator (CEDR-London), Chartered Mediator, and an arbitrator.

Justice Aluoch has judicial experience spanning over 44 years, having been appointed the second woman High Court and Court of Appeal judge in Kenya where she served for 35 years. She was subsequently elected a judge of the International Criminal Court at The Hague, where she served for nine years. She uses her expertise to teach and give legal advice to universities, institutions, judges, legal practitioners etc.

Upon retirement from the bench, Justice Aluoch transited into Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), particularly mediation, which she practices at international, regional and national levels. Her rich and diverse judicial experience in almost all subjects, both civil and criminal, sets her apart in her field and have enabled rapid advancement in her mediation practice.

Justice Aluoch has a wide range of clients, both private and those refereed by the High Court Annexed mediation program.

The disputes in the mediations she handles range from professional negligence (particularly doctors), disputes in commercial, family (including custody of children), succession, employment and labour, environment, and land law etc.

A recent notable case, referred to Justice Aluoch by the Court, was a succession case which had been pending in court for nine years. A mother and son were the respondents, whilst four of the deceased daughters were the complainants. They were all the biological children of their mother. Using her mediation skills and experience in family law, Justice Aluoch was able to assist the disputants to make their own decisions that saw the matter settled in a record one day - 9:15 am to 7.30 pm.

Justice Aluoch is a member of several professional bodies including: Chartered Institute of Arbitrators-London and the Kenya branch, board member; African Arbitration Association; International Council for Commercial Arbitration; International Advisory Board; office of the Ombudsman for UN Funds and Programs; Nairobi Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, advisory board; Africa Asia Mediation Association, board member; Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI), Deputy Chair; and the Judicial Reform Committee under the Revitalized (power sharing) Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, a country that is in transition until elections are conducted next year 2024 December. She has made contributions at conferences and workshops in all these associations and organisations.

Justice Aluoch has been appointed by the MBBI board to chair a ground-breaking peace conference in Nairobi, Kenya. This historic event takes place November 13-17, 2023 and marks the 10th International Peace Congress organized by MBBI and is the first to be hosted in Africa.

She is a recipient of several international and national Awards including CBS, EBS and Trail Blazer Award.