There are 80,000 trade-related cases that have been pending for between one and seven years at the Mombasa Law Courts, the Nation has learnt. The delay in the hearing and determination of these cases puts at stake an estimated Sh1 billion which the litigants are claiming. Investigations reveal that this backlog has been compounded by the Judiciary's failure to set up a commercial court at the Coast.
Commercial courts are only in Nairobi.
Other stations, with High Court judges, usually handle criminal and commercial cases. The LSK branch secretary, Mr Justus Munyithya, wondered why the Judiciary delayed setting up a commercial court in Mombasa. Mombasa, as a leading port in East Africa and a major tourist destination, has to be treated with some seriousness. He said Mombasa needed at least three more judges and three commissioners of assize. At a recent meeting between the LSK and the Judiciary, concern was raised over the increasing number of pending commercial cases.