Which court handles my case
Constitution of Kenya; The Judiciary · sources read 5 Oct 2026
It depends on the dispute: employment cases go to the Employment and Labour Relations Court, land and environment cases to the Environment and Land Court, and money claims up to KSh 1 million can go to the Small Claims Court. The High Court hears other civil and criminal matters and Bill of Rights cases, and the Kadhis' court hears Muslim family matters when all parties are Muslim and agree.
- How long
- Small Claims Court: the law says a claim must be decided within 60 days of filing. Other courts have no fixed time.
- Where
- The court that matches your dispute: Employment and Labour Relations Court, Environment and Land Court, Small Claims Court, Kadhis' court, magistrates' courts or the High Court. Court stations are listed on judiciary.go.ke.
Steps
- Job or labour dispute (pay, dismissal, unions): go to the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
- Land ownership, title, use of land or environmental harm: go to the Environment and Land Court.
- Money owed, goods or services, property damage or personal injury worth up to KSh 1 million: you can file at the Small Claims Court.
- Muslim marriage, divorce, inheritance or personal status, where everyone involved is Muslim and agrees: you can go to the Kadhis' court.
- Your constitutional rights were denied or violated: you can petition the High Court.
- Other civil claims worth up to KSh 20 million: file at a magistrate's court. The limit depends on the magistrate's rank (KSh 20 million for a chief magistrate down to KSh 5 million for a resident magistrate); bigger claims go to the High Court.
Watch out
- The High Court cannot hear employment or land and environment disputes; those belong to the two specialised courts.
- The Kadhis' court can only hear a case if all parties are Muslim and accept its jurisdiction.
- Some disputes start at a tribunal (for example rent or land tribunals); appeals on land and environment matters then go to the Environment and Land Court.
- The Small Claims Court can only handle claims up to KSh 1 million.
Who this covers
- Everyone. The State must ensure access to justice for all, and any court fee must be reasonable.
Official sources (7)
- Constitution of Kenya, 2010 new.kenyalaw.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Environment and Land Court judiciary.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Small Claims Court judiciary.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Magistrates' Courts Act, 2015 (No. 26 of 2015), s.7 new.kenyalaw.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Small Claims Court Act, No. 2 of 2016 new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Employment and Labour Relations Court Act (Cap. 234B), version of 31 December 2022 new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Employment and Labour Relations Court judiciary.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026