Work is underway to seeing an increase in the jurisdiction of cases magistrates preside over in the civil jurisdiction.
The proposed increase will see cases of claims of monetary value be increased from K10, 000 to
K50,000 in the District Court.
At the moment matters involving civil case claims at the District Court go up to only K10,000.
Chief Magistrate Nerrie Eliakim said the law is now changing and they are “now trying to increase jurisdiction from K10,000 to K50,000."
This change they are working on will see a bulk of cases from the National Court civil claims go down to the District court.
Meanwhile, she also added that Magisterial Services will also continue to focus on training and capacity development not only for magistrates but the support clerks and other staff at the office.
Currently there are over 70 District Court locations and 400 gazetted court holding places throughout the country.
Magistrates preside over Local and Provincial Land Court Hearings, Traffic court, juvenile court, coroner’s hearings, family court, correctional services appeal tribunals, Defense Force courts, Leadership tribunals that’s sees two magistrates assist a judge and LLG election disputes.