Which magistrate's court can hear my civil case, depending on the amount?
Magistrates' Courts Act, 2015 · sources read 5 Oct 2026
A magistrate's court can hear a civil case only up to a set value, depending on the rank of the magistrate: KSh 20 million (Chief Magistrate), 15 million (Senior Principal Magistrate), 10 million (Principal Magistrate), 7 million (Senior Resident Magistrate) or 5 million (Resident Magistrate). A claim worth more than KSh 20 million is above every magistrate's limit. Magistrates also hear African customary law matters such as dowry, customary marriage and divorce, and intestate succession, plus land and employment claims within the same money limits.
- Where
- The magistrate's court registry (Judiciary e-filing is available for many courts)
Steps
- Work out the value of what you are claiming, then match it to a magistrate rank whose limit covers it (the Chief Magistrate's court has the highest limit, KSh 20 million).
- For a customary law dispute such as dowry, a customary marriage or divorce, or intestate succession under custom, the magistrate's court is one of the courts that hears it.
- A land, environment or employment claim can also be filed before a magistrate if its value is within that magistrate's money limit.
Watch out
- The Chief Justice can revise these money limits by notice in the Gazette, taking inflation into account, so check for any newer notice.
- The limit depends on the rank of the magistrate presiding, not just on the court building: a Resident Magistrate's limit is KSh 5 million.
Who this covers
- Civil cases where the value of the subject matter is within the presiding magistrate's limit: Chief Magistrate up to KSh 20m; Senior Principal 15m; Principal 10m; Senior Resident 7m; Resident 5m.
- African customary law matters: land held under customary tenure; marriage, divorce, maintenance or dowry; seduction or pregnancy of an unmarried woman or girl; enticement of or adultery with a married person; status of widows and children (guardianship, custody, adoption, legitimacy); intestate succession not governed by written law.
- Land and environment claims (use, title, boundaries, rents, compulsory acquisition, and more), within the s.7(1) money limits.
- Employment and labour relations claims, within the s.7(1) money limits.
Official sources (1)
- Magistrates' Courts Act (No. 26 of 2015), consolidated new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026