Chief Justice Koome Expands Court of Appeal and Small Claims Courts Across Kenya

Chief Justice Koome Expands Court of Appeal and Small Claims Courts Across Kenya

Chief Justice Martha Koome has announced a major expansion of court stations across the country, including the establishment of additional appellate courts and Small Claims Courts (SCC), in a move aimed at improving access to justice and reducing case backlogs within the Judiciary of Kenya.

In a statement released on March 9, the Chief Justice confirmed that two new stations of the Court of Appeal of Kenya have been officially gazetted. The new stations will be located at Kakamega Law Courts and Meru County, with the Meru appellate court sitting at Nkubu Law Courts.

The addition of the two stations raises the number of appellate court stations in the country to eight. The move is expected to ease pressure on existing courts while improving the efficiency of appellate proceedings for litigants across the country.

Chief Justice Koome also announced the creation of a new Court of Appeal sub-registry at Embu Law Courts, established under the Court of Appeal Organization and Administration Act. This development brings the total number of appellate sub-registries in Kenya to five.

Currently, the Court of Appeal operates stations in several major cities including Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyeri, Kisumu, and Eldoret. In addition, sub-registries located in Malindi, Garissa, Kisii, and Busia help extend appellate services to residents in different regions.

Alongside the appellate expansion, the Judiciary has also increased the number of Small Claims Courts, which handle lower-value commercial and civil disputes through simplified and faster procedures.

New SCC stations have been established in Maua, Mumias, Molo, Kapsabet, Ngong, Kenol, Kiambu, Mavoko, Makueni, Kilifi, Kikuyu, Vihiga, Homa Bay, Bungoma, and Nyamira.

The new courts increase the total number of Small Claims Courts in Kenya to 55, significantly expanding the reach of the system designed to help resolve disputes quickly and at lower cost.

Small Claims Courts typically handle matters involving traders, small enterprises, and ordinary consumers, including disputes related to unpaid debts, contracts, and minor commercial disagreements.

According to the Chief Justice, the expansion is part of a broader strategy to decentralise judicial services and make courts more accessible to Kenyans living outside major urban centres.

“The expansion is expected to reduce distances travelled by litigants, advocates, and other court users to access courts. The move will also reduce costs for litigants seeking appellate justice, particularly in the Eastern and Western regions of the country,” Koome stated.

Judicial officials say the increased number of court stations will also help shorten case turnaround times and reduce congestion in busy registries.

However, the expansion comes at a time when the Judiciary continues to face financial challenges.

According to Judiciary officials, the institution requires more than KSh40 billion annually to fully fund its operations but has been receiving significantly lower allocations.

Recent estimates indicate the Judiciary receives between KSh23.7 billion and KSh27.8 billion, leaving a budget shortfall ranging between KSh16.4 billion and KSh20 billion.

Despite the funding constraints, the Judiciary says it remains committed to strengthening access to justice through decentralisation, improved court infrastructure, and the expansion of specialised courts across Kenya.

ALSO READ: JKIA Expansion to Kick Off Under New National Infrastructure Fund, Ruto Reveals

Chief Justice Koome Expands Court of Appeal and Small Claims Courts Across Kenya