Chief Justice Martha Koome has declared the beginning of the Supreme Court’s December recess.
According to a Gazette notice dated November 21, the Supreme Court will proceed on its December recess from Sunday, December 21, 2025, and resume on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, both days inclusive.
The recess is in line with Article 163(1)(a) of the Constitution, sections 6A and 29D of the Supreme Court Act, 2011, and Rules 4, 5 and 7 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2020.
Despite the recess, the Chief Justice assured the public that judicial services for urgent matters will remain uninterrupted.
"The duty Judge will be available during recess to deal with urgent matters,” the notice states.
The Supreme Court Registry will also remain open to the public from 8:30 am to 5 pm on all weekdays except public holidays, ensuring continued access to filings and judicial services.
Gazette Notice No. 15209 of 2025 was revoked through the updated communication dated 22nd October 2025.
In a separate notice dated November 13, 2025, CJ Koome announced the establishment of the Chepkemel Magistrate’s Court, which will operate under the supervisory jurisdiction of the Kericho High Court beginning December 1, 2025.
The opening of the new court is expected to ease the burden on neighbouring courts and improve access to justice for residents of Chepkemel and surrounding areas.
The Chief Justice said the Judiciary remains committed to expanding services and enhancing efficiency in the administration of justice across the country.
A judicial recess is a scheduled break in a court’s regular sittings, designed to give judges space to rest and reorganise after months of heavy workloads.
Though the court pauses normal hearings, it does not shut down.
Instead, judges use the period to write and finalise pending judgments, clear complex matters that require uninterrupted time, and attend to essential administrative work that keeps the institution running efficiently.
A duty judge remains on standby throughout the recess to handle urgent applications and time-sensitive matters, while court registries stay open on weekdays to ensure continued access to filings and basic services.
