NAIROBI, Kenya — Martha Koome has announced a major expansion of Kenya’s court network, including new appellate stations and additional small claims courts, in a move aimed at reducing travel distances, legal costs and delays in accessing justice.
In a gazette notice issued Monday, the Chief Justice established two new stations of the Court of Appeal of Kenya at Kakamega Law Courts and Meru, with the Meru station set to sit at Nkubu Law Courts.
The additions bring the number of appellate court stations nationwide to eight.
Koome also created a new Court of Appeal sub-registry at Embu Law Courts under the Court of Appeal Organization and Administration Act. The move increases the number of appellate sub-registries across the country to five.
Existing Court of Appeal stations currently serve litigants in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyeri, Kisumu and Eldoret.
Additional sub-registries opened earlier in Malindi, Garissa, Kisii and Busia have also helped expand access to appellate services.
Expansion of Small Claims Courts
The Judiciary simultaneously widened the reach of the Small Claims Court by establishing new stations in Maua, Mumias, Molo, Kapsabet, Ngong, Kenol, Kiambu, Mavoko, Makueni, Kilifi, Kikuyu, Vihiga, Homa Bay, Bungoma and Nyamira.
The additional stations raise the number of Small Claims Courts in Kenya to 55 nationwide.
The courts provide fast and simplified resolution of lower-value commercial and civil disputes, which frequently involve traders, small businesses, and consumers.
According to Koome, the expansion is part of the Judiciary’s broader plan to decentralise court services and bring justice closer to citizens.
“The expansion is expected to reduce distances travelled by litigants, advocates and other court users to access courts,” the Chief Justice said.
“The move will also reduce costs for litigants seeking appellate justice, particularly in the Eastern and Western regions of the country.”
Addressing Case Backlogs
The expansion comes amid continued pressure on Kenya’s court system due to high case volumes.
According to Judiciary data, courts recorded 516,000 new cases last year, contributing to a total backlog of about 635,262 pending cases despite a reported 99 P.c clearance rate.
The cases are currently handled by 207 judges and about 600 magistrates across the country.
Judicial leaders say decentralising courts and expanding specialised tribunals are key strategies for reducing congestion in major registries and speeding up the resolution of cases.
Funding Challenges
The Judiciary is implementing the expansion despite a significant budget deficit.
According to official figures, the institution requires more than Sh40 billion annually to operate effectively. However, recent allocations have ranged between Sh23.7 billion and Sh27.8 billion, leaving a shortfall estimated between Sh16.4 billion and Sh20 billion.
Koome said improving court access remains a priority despite the financial constraints, noting that expanding court stations helps citizens access justice closer to where they live.
The new appellate stations and small claims courts are expected to shorten case turnaround times, ease congestion in major court registries and lower the cost of pursuing legal disputes across the country.
