Chief Justice Martha Koome opened the Supreme Court’s electoral dispute resolution training.
Supreme Court judges complete electoral dispute training as the Judiciary prepares to handle petitions arising from the August 2027 polls.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has led the Supreme Court’s 2027 election readiness drive, opening a two-day electoral dispute resolution programme. Judges completed the training on November 9 and 10 ahead of the August 2027 General Election.
The Judiciary Committee on Elections (JCE) convened the programme alongside the Kenya Judiciary Academy (KJA). In a media statement, the Judiciary said the initiative aimed to support timely, fair and effective electoral justice.
Koome stressed the importance of drawing on judicial experience from the 2013, 2017 and 2022 elections. She also urged preparedness for emerging challenges in the next electoral cycle.
2027 election readiness covers evidence and technology
The training examined the constitutional and legal framework governing presidential election petitions, alongside effective case management. Judges also covered the evaluation of electoral evidence and emerging legal and technological issues.
Other sessions addressed vote scrutiny and recounts, applications made during proceedings, and consistency in electoral decisions. Meanwhile, the programme explored artificial intelligence, misinformation and disinformation, as well as judicial communication during elections.
Koome emphasised that preparation helps safeguard electoral justice and uphold the rule of law. She also linked readiness to sustaining public confidence in the Judiciary’s independence and impartiality when resolving disputes.
The sessions therefore combined lessons from earlier elections with preparation for new challenges facing the court.
Strict petition deadlines shape preparations
Under Article 163(3)(a) of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over presidential election disputes. Article 140, meanwhile, requires petitioners to file challenges within seven days after the declaration of results.
The court must then determine those petitions within 14 days of filing. These constitutional deadlines place tight limits on the time available to handle presidential election challenges.
Beyond the Supreme Court, the JCE and KJA are extending the continuous training programme across relevant courts and tribunals. It targets judges, judicial officers, court clerks and other personnel involved in electoral dispute resolution.
The wider programme also covers political party nomination disputes, other pre-election disputes and post-election petitions. The Judiciary said it seeks to improve institutional coordination, operational readiness and deployment of personnel and technological systems.
Through these preparations, the Judiciary aims to strengthen independent, impartial, fair and speedy resolution of electoral disputes.
