ADVOKS GLOBAL · KENYA
Magistrates' Courts Act
7. Civil jurisdiction of a magistrate's court
Edition: 2022-12-31 · In force
7. Civil jurisdiction of a magistrate's court
(1)A magistrate's court shall have and exercise such jurisdiction and powers in proceedings of a civil nature in which the value of the subject matter does not exceed—(a)twenty million shillings, where the court is presided over by a chief magistrate;(b)fifteen million shillings, where the court is presided over by a senior principal magistrate;(c)ten million shillings, where the court is presided over by a principal magistrate;(d)seven million shillings, where the court is presided over by a senior resident magistrate; or(e)five million shillings, where the court is presided over by a resident magistrate.(2)The Chief Justice may from time to time, by notice in the Gazette, revise the pecuniary limits of jurisdiction set out in subsection (1), taking into account inflation and change in prevailing economic conditions.(3)A magistrate's court shall have jurisdiction in proceedings of a civil nature concerning any of the following matters under African customary law—(a)land held under customary tenure;(b)marriage, divorce, maintenance or dowry;(c)seduction or pregnancy of an unmarried woman or girl;(d)enticement of, or adultery with a married person;(e)matters affecting status, and in particular the status of widows and children including guardianship, custody, adoption and legitimacy; and(f)intestate succession and administration of intestate estates, so far as they are not governed by any written law.