Two of Kenya’s highest courts have officially released their December and Christmas recess dates, signaling a temporary slowdown in judicial services over the festive period.
In a gazette notice dated November 21, both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal confirmed they will scale down their normal operations from December 21, with limited access to urgent matters such as bail applications, conservatory orders, and stay-of-execution requests.
Court of Appeal Schedule
The Court of Appeal will go on recess starting December 21, 2025, and resume on January 12, 2026.
According to the notice, the court’s registry will remain open but on adjusted hours, operating from 9:00am to 12:00 noon, including weekends, to handle emergency filings.
Supreme Court Schedule
The Supreme Court announced its own recess through a separate notice issued by Chief Justice Martha Koome. The break will run from December 21, 2025, to January 13, 2026, in line with the Constitution and Supreme Court Rules.
Koome noted that during this period, the court will not be holding regular sittings, mentioning that only urgent applications will be considered.
The recess means that normal hearings, delivery of judgments, mentions, and appeals scheduled for late December or early January will be pushed to dates after the courts reopen.
Litigants with pending matters especially at the appellate level should expect delays in processing and listing of their cases. Lawyers have been advised to plan ahead to avoid congestion when the courts resume full operations.
Lower Courts to Operate Normally
Despite the slowdown at the top courts, High Courts and magistrates’ courts across the country will continue to function normally. Trials, mentions, and fresh filings at these levels will remain unaffected.
However, files requiring immediate transition from the High Court to the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court may still experience temporary delays until full staffing resumes in mid-January.
