Kenya’s courts are facing growing pressure from a surge in new cases, even as the Judiciary continues to improve its case disposal rate, according to the latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
The Social Sector: Governance, Peace and Security report shows that 621,525 cases were filed in the 2024/25 financial year, a sharp increase from 516,121 cases recorded in 2023/24.
The increase in filings shows mounting strain on the court system, with more Kenyans turning to formal legal processes to resolve disputes.
Despite the surge, the Judiciary managed to dispose of 647,666 cases during the same period, up from 509,754 the previous year. This higher disposal rate helped reduce the backlog of pending cases to 598,835, down from 635,262.
The figures suggest that while the courts are becoming more efficient in clearing cases, the pace of new filings continues to exert pressure on judicial resources.
In the broader security landscape, the National Police Service maintained a police-to-civilian ratio of 1:525 in 2025, reflecting ongoing staffing challenges.
Reported crimes declined slightly to 96,038 from 101,220 in 2024, pointing to marginal improvements in crime levels even as enforcement capacity remains stretched.
Police also recovered or received 1,718 illegal firearms during the period under review; a notable increase compared to 135 firearms in 2024.
Staffing trends across security agencies present a mixed picture. The Kenya Police Service workforce declined to 68,493 officers in 2025 from 71,039 in 2024, while the Administration Police also recorded a drop in personnel.
In contrast, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations registered modest growth, increasing its workforce to 7,460 officers.
Within correctional services, pressure remains evident; the State Department for Correctional Services reported a prison warder-to-inmate ratio of 1:6, while probation officers supervising non-custodial offenders operated at a ratio of 1:9.
The KNBS data noted that the justice system is grappling with rising caseloads, where gains in efficiency are being tested by increasing demand and persistent staffing constraints across the wider security sector.
The data, presented in April 2026, comes amid continued government efforts to strengthen the rule of law, improve access to justice, and enhance security sector efficiency.
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