Can I represent myself in court without a lawyer?
Civil Procedure Rules, 2010 and Advocates Act · sources read 5 Oct 2026
Yes. In a civil case you can file papers and appear in court yourself, without an advocate. Only an admitted advocate with a current practising certificate may act in court for someone else, and pretending to be an advocate is an offence.
- Where
- The court registry where the case is, or online on the Judiciary e-filing portal (efiling.court.go.ke). Check an advocate at online.lsk.or.ke.
Steps
- To file a case yourself online, open an individual account on the Judiciary e-filing portal as a self-represented party.
- If you cannot attend, the court may approve someone holding your power of attorney, or an affidavit you have sworn, to act for you as a recognised agent.
- If you hire a lawyer, first check on the Law Society of Kenya website (online.lsk.or.ke) that they are an advocate with a practising certificate for this year.
- You can also check that an advocate's practising certificate is genuine on the Judiciary's JAMS site (jams.court.go.ke/verify-certificate).
Watch out
- Acting for yourself is allowed, but a person who is not a qualified advocate may not run a case in another person's name.
- Pretending to be an advocate, or using a title that suggests you are one, is an offence.
- The penalty for pretending to be an advocate is a fine of up to KSh 100,000, up to 2 years in jail, or both.
- Practising without a current practising certificate is an offence, and it may make some documents and deals done by that advocate invalid.
Who this covers
- Any party to a civil case: you may act in person, through a recognised agent, or through an advocate.
- At the Small Claims Court, a claimant can run the claim in person or through a representative, who may be an advocate.
Official sources (5)
- Civil Procedure Rules, 2010 (L.N. 151 of 2010), Order 9 new.kenyalaw.org · read 3 Oct 2026
- Advocates Act (Cap. 16) new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Advocates (Judiciary Advocates Section) judiciary.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Judiciary E-filing FAQs judiciary.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Small Claims Court FAQs (English FAQ Brochure) judiciary.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026