This archive report was first published on 14 June 2020.
On June 14, 2020, the Judiciary in Kenya announced plans to scale up its operations from Monday, following the suspension of key activities in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the new protocols, the Judiciary will limit the number of people in court and stagger the hearing of cases to avoid crowding. This will help maintain social distancing and prevent the spread of the virus.
Priority will be given to cases whose hearings were affected by the scaling down of court operations. For civil cases, parties and their advocates are advised to wait to be contacted by the court, with telephone and email inquiries encouraged through the court contacts posted on the Judiciary website.
For criminal cases, accused persons will be summoned to court through the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and the Police. Virtual hearings will continue, with limited physical hearings as necessary.
The Judiciary's decision to scale up operations comes after the government lifted the ban on public gatherings and meetings. The Judiciary had suspended the hearing of civil and criminal cases in March, with only certificates of urgency and plea-taking for serious cases allowed.
