The Judiciary of Kenya has submitted a request to Parliament for an additional Sh20.4 billion in funding for the 2027/28 financial year. This extra allocation is necessary to prepare for the resolution of disputes arising from the 2027 General Election. The institution's proposed budget for the year is Sh50.7 billion, which aims to finance its operations, reduce case backlogs, upgrade court technology, and train judicial officers.
The National Treasury has allocated Sh30.4 billion to the Judiciary, leaving a deficit of Sh20.4 billion, or approximately 40.2 per cent of the proposed budget. Chief Justice Martha Koome emphasized that adequate funding is crucial for the Judiciary to strengthen its capacity to handle election petitions and political disputes within the constitutional and statutory timelines. The proposed budget comprises Sh46.2 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh4.5 billion for development projects.
The Judiciary's funding request comes as it begins an eight-month Election Dispute Resolution (EDR) training programme for over 400 judges, judicial officers, and other personnel ahead of the August 2027 General Election. The programme, launched in Mombasa, aims to equip judicial officers with specialized knowledge of the constitutional and statutory frameworks governing elections. This includes training on pre-election disputes, election petitions, jurisdiction, and statutory timelines.
Chief Justice Koome stated that early preparation is essential for handling election petitions, which often involve complex legal questions, scrutiny of evidence, and challenges related to electoral processes. The Judiciary is taking deliberate steps to ensure courts are adequately prepared to resolve electoral disputes independently, fairly, and expeditiously. The institution will also strengthen court registries, improve filing and records management, and streamline hearing schedules.
Part of the proposed funding will support the Judiciary Committee on Elections and the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), which are expected to play a central role in resolving election-related petitions and political disputes. The Judiciary plans to enhance its capacity to assess digital evidence and resolve disputes involving electronic records and election results management systems. This will involve training judicial officers on emerging electoral jurisprudence and appeals.
Chief Justice Koome assured Kenyans that the Judiciary would remain independent and impartial in its handling of election-related cases. She urged political leaders, parties, candidates, and their supporters to respect court proceedings and avoid intimidation or undue influence. The Chief Justice also called on the media to report responsibly on electoral matters, distinguishing allegations from established facts and political commentary from judicial determinations.
The Judiciary faces the task of preparing for a potentially heavy election-related caseload while continuing to handle ordinary cases and address existing backlogs. The institution will continue pursuing the resources required to strengthen its professional capacity and operational readiness. Every electoral dispute properly brought before the courts will be determined on its merits, based on the evidence presented and the applicable law.
Key points
- The Judiciary requires Sh20.4 billion in additional funding to prepare for the 2027 General Election disputes.
- The institution has begun an eight-month Election Dispute Resolution training programme for over 400 judges and judicial officers.
- The Judiciary aims to strengthen its capacity to handle election petitions and political disputes within the constitutional and statutory timelines.
