The Judiciary will soon set up a small claims court that will be mandated to settle commercial disputes whose value is below Ksh1million.
Chief Justice Martha Koome is expected to officially commission the court on February 21st.
Eldoret High Court Judge Reuben Nyakundi has told the Court Users Committee (CUC) in the region to be ready to receive and embrace the court.
The court will be serving residents of Uasin Gishu County and its environs.
Justice Nyakundi said that if all stakeholders will embrace the court established under the Small Claims act of 2016, it will help in reducing the backlog of cases revolving around monetary claims.
He further noted that laxity among stakeholders has contributed to the backlog of cases in the country and also contributed to poverty among Kenyans.
“If each stakeholder will play his role effectively, we are going to significantly reduce the backlog of cases in this country especially if we are going to embrace small claims courts,” he said while urging CUC members to be good ambassadors of the importance of small claims court among Kenyans.
On the other hand, Eldoret Business community leader Joseph Wainaina hailed the move noting that it will help in reducing debt conflicts among average Kenyans.
Eldoret Chief Magistrate Dennis Mikoyan on his part said the court will help in achieving and enhancing the objective of the Alternative Justice System (AJS) to Kenyans.
However, North Rift Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Henry Kenei challenged the judiciary to incorporate the views of all stakeholders including lawyers to strengthen the operation of the court.
The judiciary had planned to roll out at least ten other stations of the new small claims court in other regions before the end of the financial year.
The establishment of the small claims court was gazetted by Chief Justice Martha Koome who is also the president of the Supreme Court of Kenya through a gazette notice no 13398.
