Chief Justice Martha Koome has commended the Small Claims Courts for their role in swiftly resolving disputes.
Koome revealed that at least 50,666 out of 61,269 cases have been resolved since the inception of Small Claims Courts in the country.
However, the CJ noted that there are still 10,603 pending cases, indicating the ongoing demand for the services of Small Claims Courts.
Koome spoke on Monday when she virtually delivered a keynote address during the start at the Small Claims Court Annual Symposium on Monday.
The CJ further stated that Small Claims Courts have been able to release approximately Ksh9.3 billion back to the Kenyan economy hence enhancing ease of doing business and boosting investor confidence.
“Small Claims Courts are the embodiment of people-centred justice by providing a forum where disputes with a value below Ksh1 million can be resolved expeditiously using simple procedures,” said Koome.
Consequently, Koome noted that the number of registered cases has risen at an unprecedented level with the court now being the 3rd largest in terms of case registration.
“It is notable that as at January 31, 2024, a significant number of women, totalling 7,439, have utilised Small Claims Courts to file cases. These courts have become instrumental for Kenyan women, many of whom run Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs),” she stated.
Koome underscored the need to leverage on technology to bring the court closer to Kenyans regardless of geographical distance or socio-economic status to ensure equal access to justice for all.
