Kenya's court structure: from the Supreme Court down
Judiciary of Kenya · sources read 4 Oct 2026
The Supreme Court is Kenya's highest court, followed by the Court of Appeal, then the High Court and two courts of equal status: the Employment and Labour Relations Court and the Environment and Land Court. Below them are the subordinate courts: Magistrates' courts, Kadhis' courts, the Court Martial and the Small Claims Court.
- Where
- Court stations across Kenya. There is at least one High Court station in every county.
Steps
- Most cases start in a magistrates' court (civil claims up to KSh 20 million before a Chief Magistrate) or the Small Claims Court (up to KSh 1 million).
- Appeals from the subordinate courts go to the High Court, which can also hear any criminal or civil case and Bill of Rights cases.
- Appeals from the High Court, the Employment Court and the Environment and Land Court go to the Court of Appeal.
- The Supreme Court is the final appeal court, gives advisory opinions and alone hears presidential election petitions.
Watch out
- Kadhis' courts only hear Muslim personal status, marriage, divorce and inheritance cases where all parties are Muslim and agree to go there.
- The Employment and Labour Relations Court and the Environment and Land Court have the same status as the High Court, so their appeals skip the High Court.
Official sources (9)
- The Supreme Court judiciary.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- The Court of Appeal judiciary.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- The High Court judiciary.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Employment and Labour Relations Court judiciary.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Environment and Land Court judiciary.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Subordinate courts judiciary.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Magistrate Courts judiciary.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Kadhis' Courts judiciary.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Small Claims Court judiciary.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026