The Small Claims Court in Eldoret City has quietly become a powerhouse of justice in Kenya’s North Rift region, resolving over 5,000 cases in the past year and unlocking a staggering Sh1 billion in settlements.
From unpaid debts to disputes over services and goods such as school supplies to defaulted investment schemes and failed business partnerships, the court is proving to be a fast, affordable, and accessible path to justice for thousands of residents in the region, except men chasing refunds of their ‘eaten fares,’ from slippery lovers and girlfriends.
According to court officials, such matters fall outside its legal jurisdiction, as the law is clear that it only handles financial claims involving goods, services, and enforceable contracts.
This category of rejected claims involves men who try to recover money spent on transport fare, popularly known as ‘eaten fare’, by women who never showed up for meetings or dates.
Senior Resident Magistrate Tabitha Mbugua, who serves as the adjudicator at the Eldoret Small Claims Court, says it has become a vital lifeline for individuals and businesses long denied justice.
“We resolved more than 5,000 cases between June 2024 and August 5, 2025. Many of these involved debts owed by schools to suppliers, construction industry disputes, collapsed investment schemes, and failed business partnerships,” she said.
According to the court official, it received a total of 8,142 cases in the last financial year. Of these, over 5,000 have been resolved, unlocking Sh612,819,614, while more than 1,000 cases remain active.
“Some claimants had been waiting up to five years to recover their money. We are doing our best to ensure disputes are settled within a reasonable timeframe,” she stated.
At a previous sitting, the magistrate revealed that her comments that the court had no jurisdiction over cases of men seeking help to recover ‘fare eaten by their girlfriends’ were not taken well, as it was accused of being unfair to them. She, however, sympathised with such men.
Women 'eating' men's fare
“Since I advised men whose ‘fares’ have been eaten by women that we can’t help them recover their money, many have accused this court of being unfair to men. The law does not allow my court to help men to claim back fares eaten by women who fail to show up for dates,” she reaffirmed
For small businesses, the court is proving to be a game-changer in financial conflicts. Local traders and professionals have praised the court for its efficiency and accessibility.
Eldoret-based businessman Mr Samuel Kiragu said the court has helped him recover several outstanding debts.
“I have filed multiple suits, and most have already been determined. This court moves much faster than the regular courts,” he said.
He said before its introduction, some traders were resorting to violent and illegal methods to recover their money, including physical assaults and, sadly, even fatal outcomes.
Farmers in the region are also frequent clients of the court in relation to farm input transactions, as well as traders involved in the shylock business, who have sought refuge in the court to claim their funds from debtors.
The legal fraternity, too, has hailed the court as changing the lives of many in the region through fast and fair dispute resolutions.
Eldoret-based lawyer Ego Kipkemboi, who represents clients at the Small Claims Court, applauded the Judiciary for the initiative, saying it is one of the most impactful judicial reforms delivering timely and affordable justice.
“I have helped several clients recover their dues within a matter of weeks,” said Mr Kipkemboi.
The Small Claims Court was established under the Small Claims Court Act, 2016, under Article 169(1)(d) of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution and is designed to provide quick and cost-effective solutions for disputes involving modest sums of money.
According to the law, the monetary jurisdiction of the court is capped at Sh1 million per claim.
“The maximum amount one can claim in this court is Sh1 million,” clarified Ms Mbugua.
