Kenyan courts resolved 647,666 cases in the 2024/25 financial year, marking a 25 per cent increase from the previous year, according to the State of the Judiciary Annual Report 2024/2025.
The report attributes the improvement to mobile courts, service weeks and the digital platform Mahakama Popote, which redistributed cases and eased pressure on congested stations, especially in underserved regions.
The judiciary also cleared more cases than were filed, reflecting gains in efficiency driven by new courts, expanded registries and digital services.
Chief Justice Martha Koome released the report on Friday, saying the judiciary is strengthening service delivery despite rising demand for justice.
She said the document outlines how judicial authority was exercised over the past year and the results of ongoing reforms focused on enhancing access and fairness.
“Everybody wants to experience fairness and justice,” Koome said, noting that the report highlights steps taken to protect the public and uphold professionalism across judicial offices.
A major milestone, she added, was the expansion of judicial services nationwide.
Circuit courts continued to play a central role in taking justice closer to communities, handling 2,956 cases across 79 sessions.
Mobile courts expanded access further by registering 7,872 new cases and resolving 6,751, targeting regions where travel to courts remains a challenge.
Tribunals also recorded improvements following the launch of centralised service centres in Nairobi and Kisumu.
The facilities combine registries, courtrooms, digital hubs and archives. The Kisumu centre registered more than 150 cases within weeks of opening.
Digital transformation remained a major pillar of progress.
Popote redistributed 19,089 cases to less busy stations, with 14,240 resolved.
The judiciary has introduced protocols to guide fair allocation of work and ensure timely handling of matters.
Service weeks across courts and tribunals helped cut the backlog further.
The High Court cleared 2,507 cases, while tribunals resolved 1,725. Special sittings targeted children’s matters and succession cases.
A Rapid Results Initiative at Nairobi prison processed 3,157 cases, easing congestion.
Social justice programmes also expanded, including plea bargaining, community service and diversion initiatives.
The judiciary allocated Sh86 million to pro bono legal services, enabling indigent litigants to access legal assistance.
Efforts to simplify court processes continued with the rollout of user-friendly manuals and guides, including e-guides for self-represented litigants, case management tools for the Court of Appeal and specialised registry manuals for tribunals.
The report highlights trends in case filings and determinations.
Total filings rose 20 per cent to 621,525, partly driven by the expansion of Small Claims Courts from 11 to 40 stations.
Civil cases increased to 384,539, criminal cases rose slightly to 263,127, while the Kadhis’ Courts recorded a drop in resolved matters.
Overall, case resolution increased by 25 per cent, delivering a clearance rate of 104 per cent and reducing pending cases.
The report concludes that efficiency, accessibility and innovation continue to define judicial reforms aimed at widening access to justice and reducing backlogs.
