Chief Justice Martha Koome has gazetted new Court of Appeal stations and additional Small Claims Courts across the country in a move aimed at expanding access to justice and reducing the distance Kenyans travel to seek appellate services.

In a press statement issued by the Judiciary of Kenya on Monday, the Chief Justice announced the establishment of two new Court of Appeal stations at Kakamega Law Courts and Meru, sitting at Nkubu Law Courts.

The addition brings the total number of Court of Appeal stations in the country to eight.

Other existing Court of Appeal stations include Nairobi, Mombasa,Nakuru, Nyeri, Kisumu and Eldoret.

According to the Judiciary, the Chief Justice has also established a Court of Appeal Sub-Registry at the Embu Law Courts in line with the Court of Appeal (Organization and Administration) Act, increasing the number of sub-registries to five.

The other sub-registries are located in Malindi, Garissa, Kisii and Busia.

The Judiciary said the establishment of additional appellate stations forms part of ongoing efforts to decentralize court services and enhance access to justice for citizens across the country.

"The expansion is expected to reduce the distances travelled by litigants, advocates and other court users to access appellate services. It will also reduce the cost of pursuing appeals, particularly for those in the Eastern and Western regions,” the statement said.

At the same time, the Judiciary has expanded the reach of Small Claims Courts by establishing new courts in several towns, including Maua, Mumias, Molo, Kapsabet, Ngong, Kenol, Kiambu, Mavoko, Makueni, Kilifi, Kikuyu, Vihiga, Homa Bay, Bungoma and Nyamira.

The additional stations bring the total number of Small Claims Courts in the country to 55.

Small Claims Courts handle civil and commercial disputes involving relatively low monetary value and are designed to provide a faster, simplified and affordable resolution process.

The Judiciary noted that the expansion reflects its continued commitment to bringing justice closer to the people while strengthening efficient service delivery through specialised courts and decentralized judicial infrastructure.

By increasing the number of appellate and Small Claims Court stations, the Judiciary hopes to reduce case backlog, improve turnaround time and ensure that Kenyans can access justice more conveniently within their local jurisdictions.