Supreme Court judges have completed a two-day training on electoral dispute resolution. The Judiciary says it is preparing for legal challenges arising from the 2027 General Election. The sessions ran on Monday and Tuesday. The Judiciary released the details in a statement on Thursday.
The Judiciary Committee on Elections (JCE) organised the training with the Kenya Judiciary Academy (KJA). Judges studied the legal framework for presidential election petitions, case management and how to weigh electoral evidence. According to Capital FM, the course also covered scrutiny and recount of votes, interlocutory applications and consistency in electoral rulings. Artificial intelligence, misinformation and disinformation were also on the list, along with how courts communicate during the election period.
Chief Justice Martha Koome opened the training. She said the court should build on its experience from the 2013, 2017 and 2022 elections and prepare for new challenges in 2027. Koome said judicial preparedness was essential to protecting electoral justice and the rule of law. She added that it helps maintain public confidence in the Judiciary as an independent and impartial arbiter of election disputes.
Supreme Court Judge Mohamed Warsame chairs the JCE. The Eastleigh Voice quoted him as saying the programme "forms part of a wider Judiciary initiative to ensure courts and tribunals are adequately prepared to resolve disputes arising at different stages of the electoral process."
The court works to tight deadlines. Under Article 163(3)(a) of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over presidential election disputes. Article 140 requires petitions to be filed within seven days of the results being declared. The court must then rule within 14 days of filing.
The training will not stop at the top court. The Judiciary said the programme "is being progressively rolled out to judges, judicial officers, court clerks and other relevant personnel across courts and tribunals" that handle electoral disputes. It covers party nomination fights, other pre-election disputes and post-election petitions.
According to the Judiciary, the goal is to settle disputes independently, impartially, fairly and quickly. It also seeks better coordination and readiness, and smoother deployment of staff and technology systems. The General Election is due in August 2027.