Judiciary to host inaugural Judges Book Fair in Nairobi

The Kenya Judiciary Academy is set to host the inaugural Judges Book Fair aimed at showcasing scholarly works authored by judges, judicial officers and legal researchers as part of efforts to promote legal scholarship and public engagement within the Judiciary.

The event, themed “Bench Scholarship and Jurisprudential Ferment: A Symbiosis”, will be held on May 8, 2026, at the Kenya National Library Services in Upper Hill, Nairobi.

The fair seeks to highlight the often-overlooked intellectual contributions of judges beyond their judicial decisions, while strengthening the relationship between the bench and academia.

“The Judiciary plays a critical role in upholding the rule of law, promoting constitutionalism, and facilitating access to justice. In their numerous judicial determinations, judges generate vast knowledge which the academy uses in its intellectual pursuits. Similarly, the bench uses academic output in its legal reasoning and references. This makes the relationship between the judiciary and the academy symbiotic,” the academy stated.

Kenya Judiciary Academy noted that judges not only speak through judgments, but also through scholarly works that influence legal thought, jurisprudence and legal education.

"The silent intellectual influence and footprint of the ‘gowns in (and) robes’ remains unexplored.  There is a large body of important scholarly writings by judges and judicial officers that require systematic attention, study, and exposure. Some of these works predate their joining the bench. Many others have been written while serving," the Kenya Judiciary Academy noted.

The event will feature keynote addresses, authors’ panel discussions, exhibitions of publications, relaunches of books, autograph sessions and presentations by various judicial authors. A special memoriam exhibition will also honour deceased judges who authored scholarly works.

“The Judges Book Fair seeks to create a dedicated platform where Judges, Judicial Officers and staff can showcase their published works; engage the public (including students) based on these works as part of Judiciary outreach programs; and facilitate access and acquisition of relevant legal texts, reference materials, journals, and digital legal resources.”

Chief Justice Martha Koome is expected to officially open the event, which will bring together serving and retired judges, magistrates, kadhis, tribunal members, judicial staff, legal researchers, publishers, students and members of the public.

Other participating institutions will include the National Council for Law Reporting, the National Council on the Administration of Justice, universities, publishers and legal stakeholders.

The organisers say the fair will also promote continuous judicial education, legal literacy and scholarly discourse within both the Judiciary and the wider public sphere.

Post-event activities will include book signing sessions at selected bookshops and lecture circuits by judge-authors in schools and other institutions.

The Judges’ Book Fair will serve as an important platform for promoting a culture of continuous learning within the Judiciary.

It will also serve as an important public outreach and education event. It further advances the KJA mandate of constructive engagement and dialogue.