Chief Justice and Supreme Court President Martha Koome has appointed three magistrates to broaden their judicial duties, focusing on succession, children’s, and small claims matters.

The appointments, effective from July 1, 2026, were made public in the Kenya Gazette on July 31, 2026, under Gazette Notice No. 11493. Tobias Korir, Javan Aduwo, and Aileen Ingati have been named Resident Magistrates and Deputy Registrars by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), acting under Article 172(1)(c) of the Constitution and the Judicial Service Act.

Expanded Judicial Responsibilities

  • Succession Cases: Through Gazette Notice No. 11494, the magistrates were designated to represent the High Court in succession matters within their current and future jurisdictions. This authority is granted under section 47 of the Law of Succession Act, enabling them to handle estate administration and distribution disputes.
  • Children’s Cases: Under Gazette Notice No. 11495 and section 90(2) of the Children Act, 2022, Korir, Aduwo, and Ingati are authorized to preside over cases involving children within their court stations.
  • Small Claims Proceedings: The magistrates were also appointed as Adjudicators under the Small Claims Court Act, 2016, via Gazette Notice No. 11496, allowing them to manage small claims cases in their jurisdictions.

These appointments consolidate multiple judicial functions under the three magistrates, enhancing their roles in specialised areas of the judiciary. The new responsibilities apply across their current stations and any future deployments.