The much-awaited and celebrated Small Claims Court Registry has been opened at the Nakuru Law Courts, and the first three cases were registered Thursday, during the opening ceremony.
The Ag Registrar Stella Kanyiri said the revolutionary and milestone Small Claims Court (SCC) is a subordinate court established under section 4 of the Court Act No 2 of 2016, and has jurisdiction over claims whose subject matter does not exceed Sh 1000,000.
She was speaking at a Nakuru hotel during the sensitisation forum on the SCC attended by Judges, Magistrates, Judiciary staff, ODPP, Kenya Prison Service, Children’s Service, Advocates, the business community and religious groups.
Ms Kanyiri said the courts have proved to be extremely popular with wananchi because they expedite justice at the rate appreciated by them. She added that since they were launched two years ago at the Milimani law courts in Nairobi over Sh 900,000,000 has been rescued by claimants.
In addition, she said the landmark courts were celebrated and feted by wananchi because they are accelerated and within 60 days from the launch of the case a ruling must be given without fail and that has enabled fast-tracked justice for the aggrieved.
She also said when such cases are taken through the normal court procedures, they take time.
The other notable innovatory and breakthrough in the SCC is that the court fees were waived through legal Notice No 59, issued under the Public Finance Management Act by the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Planning.
Apart from that, she said the claimant can choose to represent themselves and not hire an advocate, because the legal jargon and technicalities have been simplified, with adjournments limited to only three days’ maximum when it’s absolutely necessary.
Source: Kenya News Agency