Residents of Narok County and neighbouring regions will no longer be required to travel long distances to file employment and labour-related cases following the launch of an Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) Sub-Registry in Narok.
The new facility, officially inaugurated by the principal judge of the Employment and Labour Relations Court, Justice Monica Mbaru, is expected to bring judicial services closer to thousands of workers, employers and litigants who previously relied on courts in Nakuru and other towns to access employment justice.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, Justice Mbaru said the establishment of the sub-registry forms part of the Judiciary’s broader efforts to strengthen access to justice and improve service delivery across the country.
She noted that the initiative aligns with the judiciary’s vision of social transformation through access to justice, adding that decentralizing court services would help reduce delays, cut costs for litigants and make the justice system more responsive to the needs of local communities.
“The establishment of the Narok Sub-Registry is aimed at enhancing access to justice by bringing court services closer to the people,” Justice Mbaru said.
She explained that while the Judiciary works towards further expansion of services, an Employment and Labour Relations Court judge will, in the meantime, hear cases at the Narok Law Courts on a circuit basis.
Presiding Judge Narok High Court Justice Charles Kariuki (on her right).
Employment and Labour Court Judge Nakuru Justice Anna Mwaure (on her left) during the official opening of the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) Sub-Registry in Narok, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
The arrangement is expected to significantly reduce the burden on litigants, who have traditionally been forced to travel to Nakuru to file documents, attend hearings and follow up on labour-related disputes.
Justice Mbaru urged litigants, advocates, trade unions, employers and other stakeholders to utilize the new facility, noting that matters that would ordinarily be filed in Nakuru, Kericho, or Kisii could now be processed through the Narok Sub-Registry.
She expressed confidence that the move would improve the speed and efficiency of handling employment disputes while expanding access to judicial services in a region whose population and economic activity continue to grow.
The launch comes amid increasing efforts by the judiciary to decentralize court operations and bring legal services closer to underserved communities.
Access to employment justice has been identified as a key pillar in protecting workers’ rights, promoting fair labour practices and fostering harmonious industrial relations.
Legal practitioners attending the event welcomed the development, saying the sub-registry would save litigants time and money while helping to ease congestion at other court stations.
Narok County has experienced steady growth in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, trade and public service, leading to a rise in employment-related matters that require timely judicial intervention.
Justice Mbaru said the new registry would play an important role in ensuring that workers and employers can resolve disputes more efficiently and without unnecessary logistical challenges.
She was accompanied by Lady Justice Anna Mwaure of the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nakuru, Presiding Judge of the Narok High Court Justice Charles Kariuki, and Acting Registrar of the ELRC Fredrick Nyamora.
The Narok Sub-Registry will operate under the administrative supervision of the Employment and Labour Relations Court at the Nakuru station.
The opening of the facility marks a significant milestone in the judiciary’s efforts to expand its footprint and ensure that justice is not only available but also accessible to communities across Kenya.
By Duncan Kamau and Emily Kadzo
