The Judiciary has assured the public that all courts across the country will remain open and continue operating normally on Wednesday, July 22, despite a planned nationwide boycott of court proceedings by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
In a statement issued on Monday, the Judiciary said it had taken note of the LSK’s call for advocates to boycott court proceedings and suspend appearances before certain courts but maintained that the action was neither appropriate nor proportionate.
“Courts will remain open on 22 July 2026The Judiciary has taken note of the statement issued by the Law Society of Kenya on 17 July 2026 calling upon advocates to boycott court proceedings nationwide on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, and to suspend appearances before certain courts,” the statement read.
“The Judiciary assures the public that all courts throughout the Republic will remain open and will continue hearing and determining matters as scheduled on Wednesday, 22 July 2026,” the Judiciary assured.
The institution argued that the proposed boycott would primarily affect litigants and other court users whose matters are scheduled for hearing and determination.
While acknowledging the concerns raised by the LSK, the Judiciary reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement, describing the lawyers’ body as an indispensable partner in the administration of justice.
It noted that over the past two years, the Judiciary and the LSK have held at least five consultative meetings to discuss challenges facing the justice sector, with agreed resolutions currently being implemented. A further meeting involving the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), the LSK Council and representatives of the Senior Counsel Bar is scheduled for July 31.
The Judiciary also defended the constitutional independence of judges and judicial officers, emphasizing that under Article 160 of the Constitution, they are subject only to the Constitution and the law and cannot be directed by any individual or authority on how to decide cases.
On accountability, the institution said complaints against judges, judicial officers and Judiciary staff should be lodged with the Judicial Service Commission or the Office of the Judiciary Ombudsman, where they would be investigated fairly and transparently in accordance with the law.
The Judiciary further highlighted improvements in court performance, saying it resolved 647,686 cases during the 2024/2025 financial year against 621,425 new filings, achieving a case clearance rate of 104 per cent. It added that pending cases fell by three per cent while the case backlog declined by 30 per cent despite a 20 per cent increase in new filings.
Addressing concerns over delays in court proceedings, the Judiciary said adjournments were caused by multiple factors across the justice system, including the absence of witnesses, parties and advocates, as well as courts being engaged in other official duties.
It also acknowledged occasional disruptions to its e-filing platform, saying measures have been put in place to notify court users of system outages and provide alternative filing arrangements where necessary.
The Judiciary urged the Law Society of Kenya to reconsider the planned boycott and instead pursue its concerns through ongoing dialogue and the constitutional mechanisms available for reviewing judicial decisions and handling complaints.
The statement comes ahead of the LSK’s planned nationwide boycott on Wednesday, with the Judiciary assuring litigants and other court users that all courts will remain open and that scheduled matters will proceed as planned.
