NAIROBI, August 2 – The High Court across the country, other than the Coast Province on Friday began a 45-day summer vacation, expected to run up to September 15.
In a statement, High Court Registrar, Lydia Achode said during the vacation period, trials in criminal appeals would take place as usual.
“The Summer Vacation of the High Court in the Coast Province shall commence on 1st August, 2008, and shall terminate on 18th August, 2008 both days inclusive,” Achode stated in her statement.
The registrar said that an assigned judge would hear urgent civil matters admitted in accordance with the rules of the court.
She added that during the period, all High Court offices besides those in Mombasa and Malindi would remain open to the public from 8.45 a.m. to midday on all weekdays other than public holidays, whereas courts in Mombasa and Malindi, shall be open from 8.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. on all weekdays except on public holidays.
However, all courts and offices of the chief magistrate, senior principal magistrate, principal magistrate, senior resident magistrate, resident magistrate, kadhis and district magistrates will be open during the vacation from 8.00am to 5.00pm for the Government Departments in each province.
Achode said criminal cases in all subordinate courts would be heard as usual and urgent civil matters of in which advocates are not engaged will also be heard at the court’s convenience.
“Civil suits and civil matters of an urgent nature or those in which advocates are not engaged may also be heard in these courts if convenient,” she stated.
The close of the term comes even as numerous election petition cases remain pending despite efforts to expedite them.
The bureaucratic manual processes especially at the registries have been blamed for the backlog which has seen cases drag for a long time.
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