High Court judges will proceed on a 46-day recess starting August 1, 2026, Principal High Court Judge Eric Ogola has announced.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

“The August Recess of the High Court and Courts of Equal Status shall commence on August 1, 2026 and terminate on September 15, 2026, both days inclusive,” Ogola stated in a notice published in the Kenya Gazette dated June 19.

The Judiciary said arrangements have been put in place to ensure urgent matters continue to be heard during the annual recess period.

Kenyans.co.ke has learnt that duty judges will be designated during the recess to handle urgent petitions filed before the courts.

📌 What You Need to Know

Under the framework, presiding judges at High Court stations and divisions will appoint duty judges for their jurisdictions, while the Principal Judge of the Employment and Labour Relations Court and the Presiding Judge of the Environment and Land Court will make similar appointments.

“In court stations with a single Judge, the matters emanating therefrom will be handled in the nearest High Court station where a Recess Duty Judge is sitting, which shall be indicated on the Station’s Notice Board by the Presiding Judge of such single Judge Station,” Ogola directed.

During the recess period, all 47 High Court stations and six sub-registries will remain open from 8am to 5pm on weekdays to facilitate urgent filings.

The Judiciary said the measures are aimed at maintaining access to justice for time-sensitive cases.

Beyond the recess arrangements, several high-profile constitutional petitions are pending before the courts, filed by civil society groups, state watchdogs and public interest litigants.

Foremost among them is a petition by the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) challenging key revenue provisions in the Finance Bill 2026.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke