Suppliers Portal
Causelist
CSOER
Advocates
Tenders
Facebook
Twitter
Search
logo
mobile logo
Supreme Court of Kenya — Judiciary of Kenya

Est. 2011 · Highest Court of the Land

Supreme
Court of
Kenya

The apex court of the Republic of Kenya — guardian of constitutional supremacy, architect of national jurisprudence, and final arbiter of justice for all Kenyans.

Visit Official Website (opens in a new tab) View Judgments (opens in a new tab)
Year Established
2011
Justices of the Court
7
Constitutional Basis
Art. 163

The people demanded a court that would stand above fear, above favour — a court equal to the Constitution itself.

Kriegler Commission, 2008

Born from a
Nation's Demand
for Justice

The establishment of the Supreme Court of Kenya can be traced to the controversial Presidential election of 2007. The Kreigler Commission, established to investigate the unprecedented electoral violence and allegations of irregularities, identified a critical trust deficit between the Kenyan public and its judicial institutions.

Kenyans levelled serious allegations against the Judiciary — inefficiency, incompetence, and corruption. It was evident that the people had lost faith in the Judiciary's ability to dispense justice fairly, impartially and without fear. The Supreme Court was the answer: a new apex institution built on a new constitutional foundation, accountable to the people.

Role of the
Supreme Court

Section 3 of the Supreme Court Act, 2011 clearly delimits the objectives of the Court as Kenya's final judicial authority.

  • Objective (a)

    Constitutional Supremacy

    Assert the supremacy of the Constitution and the sovereignty of the people of Kenya as the foundational purpose of all judicial activity.

  • Objective (b)

    Authoritative Interpretation

    Provide authoritative and impartial interpretation of the Constitution, ensuring clarity and consistency in the highest law of the land.

  • Objective (c)

    Rich Jurisprudence

    Develop rich jurisprudence that respects Kenya's history, traditions, and facilitates its social, economic, and political growth.

  • Objective (d)

    Constitutional Transition

    Enable important constitutional and legal matters, including those relating to the transition between constitutional dispensations, to be determined with due regard to Kenya's circumstances.

  • Objective (e)

    Access to Justice

    Improve access to justice for all Kenyans, ensuring the highest court remains a meaningful institution in the lives of ordinary citizens.

  • Objective (f)

    Court Administration

    Provide for the administration of the Supreme Court and all related matters, ensuring the institution operates with efficiency and integrity.

The Bench of
Seven Justices

The Court is established under Article 163 of the Constitution consisting of the Chief Justice, who serves as President of the Court; the Deputy Chief Justice, who is the Deputy President; and five other Justices of the Supreme Court.

Together, the seven justices form the apex judicial body of the Republic, deliberating on matters of national constitutional importance, election disputes, and advisory opinions.

  • President of the Court

    Hon. Justice Martha Koome, EGH

    Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya

  • Deputy President of the Court

    Hon. Lady Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu, FCIArb, MGH

    Deputy Chief Justice and Vice-President of the Supreme Court of Kenya

Plus five additional Justices of the Supreme Court.

Physical Location

Intersection of Taifa Road
& City Hall Way, Nairobi

The Seat of
the Court

Building
Supreme Court Building, Nairobi
Landmark Reference
Adjacent to Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC)
Operating Hours
Jurisdiction
Final appellate court for Kenya; advisory opinion jurisdiction; exclusive presidential election petition jurisdiction.
Determination in a state of emergency and Direct Appeals from decisions of Tribunals under Art. 168

Access the Supreme Court Website

For filings, cause lists, judgments, and official communications — visit the dedicated Supreme Court website for comprehensive resources and services.

Visit Supreme Court Website (opens in a new tab)

Accessibility Tools

Web Accessibility plugin by DJ-Extensions.com
Skip to content