Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu launched the Small Claims Court at Milimani Law Courts, for the first time giving hope to SMEs and content creators in Kenya who struggle to get paid once work is done and delivered to their clients.
According to the announcement made by the Judiciary, the Small Claims Court will be a “special court” that will be dealing with cases of up to 1,000,000 shillings with judgments to take a maximum of two months.
The cases before the court will include; contract for sale and supply of goods and services, a contract relating to money held and received, recovery of movable property (not land), loss and damage caused to property, compensation for personal injury, and settling of debts.
Ag CJ Philomena Mwilu has today launched the Small Claims Court at Milimani.This is a special court dealing with cases of up to Ksh 1 million. Judgement is in 2 https://t.co/UHbv31ynri will improve ease of doing business. Launch was livestreamed on Facebook: Kenya Judiciary pic.twitter.com/walto0EJBU
— The Judiciary Kenya (@Kenyajudiciary) April 26, 2021
For years, SMEs in Kenya have complained of justice never being on their side when it comes to asking for their pay upon delivery of goods and services to individuals and organizations. This has seen most of them shape out of businesses.
The Small Claims Court also comes as a reprieve for bloggers, influencers, and content creators in Kenya who for years have had their pay either delayed on denied upon delivery of a service. What most of them need to do is to ensure they have valid contracts.