NAIROBI — Kenya’s Supreme Court will take its annual year-end recess from December 21, 2025, to January 13, 2026, Chief Justice Martha Koome has announced.

While the judges take a break from regular hearings, Koome assured the public that urgent matters will still be handled. “During this period, the Supreme Court Registry shall remain open to the public from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on all weekdays other than public holidays,” she said.

The brief closure marks the court’s final recess of the year — a time used by judges to write pending judgments, review cases, and prepare for the new legal term. Litigants and lawyers have been advised to plan their filings and appeals accordingly, as full hearings will resume after January 13.

Access to Justice Expands

Alongside the recess announcement, the Judiciary revealed plans to open a new Environment and Land Court station in Limuru. The move aims to bring services closer to residents and ease the backlog of land-related disputes that have strained neighbouring courts in Kiambu and Nairobi.

The new station is part of the Judiciary’s ongoing expansion to improve access to justice in rapidly growing regions.

Appointments to the Sports Disputes Tribunal

In a separate development, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) confirmed the appointment of Allan Mola Owinyi as Deputy Chairperson of the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT). His five-year term began on October 7, 2025, and will run until May 16, 2030.

The JSC also announced five new members to the Tribunal: Eddie Omondi, Victor Obwaya Omwebu, Aleli Peris Mukoko, Nicodemus Kimanthi Musau, and Luke Wamugunda Irungu. Their appointments, effective September 15, 2025, will also run for five years.

The expanded Tribunal is expected to strengthen the handling of disputes in Kenya’s fast-growing sports sector, ranging from athlete contracts to federation governance and doping cases.

A Judiciary Preparing for a Busy Year

The announcements come as the Judiciary continues a year of heavy reforms and administrative changes under Chief Justice Koome. With 2026 set to bring fresh constitutional petitions, election-related disputes, and the implementation of new digital systems, the country’s top court appears to be gearing up for another demanding year.

For now, the brief pause offers Kenya’s legal community a rare window of calm before courtrooms across the country roar back to life in mid-January.