by Wycliffe Kipsang

Kenya’s Judiciary will this month commission the first ever Small Claims Court in Eldoret.

The court which will help in boosting access to justice and expeditious determination of commercial disputes whose value is below Sh1 million will be established in Eldoret by Chief Justice Martha Koome on February 21.

Eldoret judge Reuben Nyakundi has told court users in the region to be ready to receive and embrace the court which has already been gazetted to start serving residents of Uasin Gishu County and its environs.

Justice Nyakundi said if stakeholders embrace the court established under the Small Claims Act of 2016  it will help reduce the backlog of cases revolving around monetary claims below Sh1 million.

Justice Nyakundi said laxity among key stakeholders has contributed to the backlog of cases in the country. He said delay of cases in courts has 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 all going to embrace small claims courts,” said Justice Nyakundi.