Case registration in the country's courts has remained high over the past year, with the workload in the High Court’s civil stream rising from about 384 cases per judge in 2024 to more than 600 cases per judge last year.

Chief Justice Peter Shivute said the figures reflect pressure across the courts, driven mainly by a shortage of judicial officers and budgetary constraints.

Shivute made the remarks at the opening of the Judiciary legal year.

He said the shortage of judicial officers has reached a critical point, with the retirement of judges at both the High Court and Supreme Court creating a need for more judges, particularly in the civil stream.

“Judges and courts are operating under pressure,” Shivute said.

He said the situation is also affecting lower courts, where the case backlog stood at more than 63,000 cases at the end of last year.

Shivute linked the backlog to a lack of staffing or inadequate staffing levels.

Budgetary constraints also contribute to the challenges faced by the Judiciary.