High Court judges are set to begin a 46-day recess on August 1, 2026, Principal High Court Judge Eric Ogola has announced.
“The August Recess of the High Court and Courts of Equal Status shall commence on August 1, 2026 and terminate on September 15, 2026, both days inclusive,” Ogola said in a notice published in the Kenya Gazette dated June 19.
The Judiciary said it has made arrangements to ensure urgent matters continue being heard during the annual recess.
Duty judges are expected to be assigned during the recess to deal with urgent petitions filed before the courts.
Under the plan, presiding judges at High Court stations and divisions will name duty judges for their areas, while the Principal Judge of the Employment and Labour Relations Court and the Presiding Judge of the Environment and Land Court will make similar appointments.
“In court stations with a single Judge, the matters emanating therefrom will be handled in the nearest High Court station where a Recess Duty Judge is sitting, which shall be indicated on the Station’s Notice Board by the Presiding Judge of such single Judge Station,” Ogola directed.
During the recess, all 47 High Court stations and six sub-registries will remain open from 8am to 5pm on weekdays to allow urgent filings.
The Judiciary said the steps are intended to preserve access to justice for time-sensitive cases.
Apart from the recess arrangements, several prominent constitutional petitions remain pending before the courts, filed by civil society groups, state watchdogs and public interest litigants.
Among the key cases is a petition by the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) challenging major revenue provisions in the Finance Bill 2026.
COFEK argues that the hurried push for consumer taxes lacks adequate public consultation and negatively affects vulnerable traders.
High Court Judge David Mburu certified the matter as urgent, ordering the state to file responses before a mention scheduled for June 25, 2026.
The court is also examining the operational framework of the National Infrastructure Fund Act alongside state divestiture policies.
Consolidated petitions seeking to stop the privatisation of strategic assets, including the Kenya Pipeline Company, are also pending, with rulings expected between August and October 2026.