Main Article Content
Abstract
The study set out to investigate the mediation effect on access to justice taking specific interest in Gihanga commune. The study employed the descriptive and correlational design and opted quantitative approach. The sample size of 705 from the total population of 55,344 people was used. Data collected from the field was analyzed using SPSS Version (25.0) and was presented using Pearson’s correlation, multiple regression and factor structure loadings. The result indicated that there is a significant positive relationship between Mediation and Access to justice (r = 0.688, P-value < 0.01). There is also a significant positive relationship between Awareness and Access to justice (r = 0.727, P-value < 0.01) and a significant positive relationship between Mediation and Awareness (r = 0.710, P-value < 0.01). These variables explained 56.4% of the variance of Access to justice (R Square =.564). The most influential predictor of Access to justice was Awareness (β = .470, Sig .000). Mediation is less likely to influence Access to justice since it portrays a lower significance than Awareness (β = .346, Sig .003) in the model.The study recommends enlightenment of masses on the ease, importance and impact of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, creation of awareness campaigns to inform masses of their rights and duties as responsible citizens, constitutional review to provide clear legislation on various legal players as well as investment in legal aid services and promotion of less costly legal avenues like arbitration, among others.