President Uhuru Kenyatta on December 15, 2021/  PSCU

NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 16- President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced plans to construct a world class Judiciary Academy.

Uhuru, on Wednesday said, the government will support the Judiciary’s quest to develop the academy into a regional hub that will also stand to benefit other East African member states. 

“This support to Partner States is already underway and the Kenya Judiciary Academy is already supporting the training for judges and judicial officers from Somalia and South Sudan,” he said.

A total of 55 acres has been set aside for the project.

Speaking during the joint symposium EACFJ and EAJEC, Uhuru said judicial education and training forums such as this one “are crucial in ensuring the realization of national development and social transformation.”

The President noted that Sh362,044,601 million worth of cases have been processed by the Small Claims Courts in less than six months.

The Small Claims Court, which is only operational in Nairobi, has resolved 637 cases at an average time of 53 days, against the statutory requirement of a maximum of 60 days.

This week, Chief Justice Martha Koome established another 11 small claims courts that will handle financial disputes not exceeding Sh1 million.

In a Gazette notice dated December 10, Koome established the courts in Eldoret, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kisumu, Machakos, Meru, Mombasa, Naivasha, Nakuru, Nyeri and Thika,

The small claims court was established under the Small Claims Act 2016, which was amended through the Small Claims Court (Amendment) Act, 2020.