Chief Justice Martha Koome has officially announced that the Supreme Court of Kenya will take a six-week recess beginning in August 2025.
In a gazette notice published on July 8, CJ Koome, who also serves as the President of the Supreme Court, declared that the court will be on recess from Friday, August 1, 2025, until Monday, September 15, 2025. Both dates are inclusive, meaning the court will resume its regular operations after that period.
Koome explained that this break is in accordance with the Constitution of Kenya, the Supreme Court Act of 2011, and the Supreme Court Rules of 2020.
She cited legal references including Article 163(1)(a) of the Constitution, Section 6 of the Supreme Court Act, and Rules 4, 5, and 7 of the Supreme Court Rules to support the court’s decision.
“The Supreme Court August recess will begin on August 1 and end on September 15, 2025. This is in line with the judiciary’s schedule as guided by the Constitution and relevant legal frameworks,” read the official notice.
Despite the court being on recess, the Chief Justice emphasized that the Supreme Court Registry will remain operational throughout the break. Members of the public will still be able to access registry services from Monday to Friday between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, excluding weekends and public holidays.
CJ Koome further noted that a duty judge will be assigned during this recess period to handle urgent or emergency matters that may arise while the court is not in full session.
“The duty Judge will be present during the break to attend to any pressing matters. Meanwhile, the Registry will continue to serve the public during normal working hours on weekdays, excluding public holidays,” the notice added.
Koome highlighted that this break is part of the official judiciary calendar. It allows Supreme Court judges time to focus on activities such as legal research, preparing rulings, writing judgments, and other internal judicial duties which require quiet and uninterrupted concentration—tasks that are often hard to manage when the court is actively hearing cases.
During the recess, judges are not expected to handle legal proceedings or attend trials and sessions. Instead, they are given the opportunity to work on critical behind-the-scenes responsibilities that help in the delivery of justice.
It’s also important to note that court recess dates and durations can vary depending on the jurisdiction and are usually set by the Principal Judge. For instance, the High Court in Garissa had its own recess earlier, running from December 23, 2024, to January 13, 2025.
The Supreme Court’s scheduled break reflects the broader practice within the judiciary, where courts take short breaks throughout the year to ensure judges remain effective in their roles.
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