The ACC Listen complaints by Citizens against Advocates

Narok, Thursday 15th June 2023

KNA by John Kaleke

The Advocates’ Complaints Commission (ACC) listened to citizens’ complaints against Advocates during a meeting to enlighten citizens on the right alternatives mechanism of disputes resolutions between the parties and to better the access to justice services.

Speaking to the press at The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) offices in Narok, the Advocates’ Complaints Commission (ACC) Chairperson Moses Cheboi, who is a former National Assembly Deputy Speaker said the commission is carrying out its mandate on listening to complaints by the citizens against the advocates.

“We have come to deal with the complaints raised by the citizens, because there are a few here in Narok. And as a commission it’s our work to deal with such complaints,” added Cheboi.

Mr Cheboi noted that the way to deal with these complaints is by trying to bring parties together and to use Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that comprises mediation, arbitration, and neutral evaluation to resolve these complaints.

“When we fail to prosecute, we try to use alternative resolutions to bring parties together and promote reconciliation,” Cheboi said.

Further, Cheboi said the use of ADR mechanism in the commission has produced a lot of success in settling disputes between citizens against the advocates.

According to the chairperson, the common ailment is like withholding money of the client by the advocate that arises from insurance claims after the case has been ruled by the court.

Cheboi said the team of six advocates from Nairobi who have already visited Kericho and Bomet counties will lead a similar exercise in Narok County for two days.

The ACC is a department under the office of the Attorney General with a mandate to receive complaints against advocates and upon the inquiry into the complaints and try to bring reconciliation.

Courtesy ; K. N. A