Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Martha Koome has gazetted the establishment of new Magistrates’ Courts in different parts of the country.
The new court stations in Kegonga, Emuhaya, Maara and Tarakwa took effect on September 1, 2026, following separate Gazette Notices issued on August 26.
The development gives residents in the affected areas access to magistrates’ services within their localities, while placing each station under the supervisory jurisdiction of a designated High Court.
Kegonga and Emuhaya Courts Established
Under Gazette Notice No. 14145, Koome established the Kegonga Magistrates’ Court, which will be under the supervision of the Migori High Court. The court took effect on September 1.
“Take notice that the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya has established the Kegonga Magistrates’ Court, which is within the supervisory jurisdiction of the Migori High Court, with effect from 1st September 2026,” read the notice in part.
The establishment was formally dated August 26, when Koome issued the notice in her capacity as Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya.
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A separate notice, Gazette Notice No. 14146, established the Emuhaya Magistrates’ Court, which falls under the supervisory jurisdiction of the Vihiga High Court.
Gazette Notice No. 14147 established the Maara Magistrates’ Court, placing the station within the supervisory jurisdiction of the Chuka High Court, and takes effect from September 1, 2026.
The fourth station, Tarakwa Magistrates’ Court, was established through Gazette Notice No. 14148 and placed under the supervisory jurisdiction of the Eldoret High Court.
Under Kenya’s Constitution, Magistrates’ Courts are among the subordinate courts established under Article 169.
What Magistrates’ Courts Handle
Magistrates’ Courts exercise jurisdiction in civil matters according to the value of the subject matter and the rank of the magistrate presiding over the case.
Under the existing statutory framework, the limits range from KSh5 million for a Resident Magistrate to KSh20 million for a Chief Magistrate in civil proceedings.
Their work also extends beyond ordinary civil disputes. Magistrates’ Courts handle criminal cases, traffic matters and other proceedings where jurisdiction is granted by written law. They are therefore an important part of the day-to-day administration of justice, particularly because they handle a large proportion of cases filed within the subordinate court system.
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New Division for Tribunal Appeals
On July 12, CJ Koome established a new division of the High Court to hear tribunal appeals.
The new Tribunals Appeals Division operates from the Milimani Law Court in Nairobi and took effect on July 1.
The division was established under the High Court (Organization and Administration) Act to hear appeals from tribunals whose decisions are appealable to the High Court.
However, the division excludes appeals from the Tax Appeals Tribunal from its jurisdiction.
“The Chief Justice has established a Tribunals Appeals Division of the High Court at Milimani Law Courts, to hear appeals emanating from Tribunals whose appeals lie in the High Court save for those emanating from the Tax Appeals Tribunal with effect from 1st July, 2026,” the gazette notice stated.
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