The Supreme Court and Court of Appeal have announced their official Christmas recess periods, signalling a temporary slowdown in appellate judicial services over the festive season.
In gazette notices issued on November 21, the two courts confirmed they will scale down regular operations beginning December 21, with only urgent matters such as bail reviews, conservatory orders, and stay-of-execution applications set to be handled during the break.
The Court of Appeal will resume full activities on January 12, 2026, while the Supreme Court will reopen a day later on January 13, as outlined by Chief Justice Martha Koome in accordance with the Constitution and the Court’s rules.
During the recess, the Court of Appeal Registry will remain open for limited hours, including weekends from 9am to noon, to facilitate urgent filings.
The pause in hearings means litigants with pending appeals should expect delayed mentions and judgments, with some cases likely to be pushed to later dates once normal sittings resume.
However, High Courts and magistrates’ courts across the country will continue operating normally. Trials, mentions and new filings at the lower court levels will proceed uninterrupted, though transitions of cases requiring immediate movement to appellate courts may experience delays.
Lawyers have been urged to plan filings early to avoid congestion when full court services resume in mid-January.
