Office of The Registrar
The Office of the Registrar High Court is established under Section 18 of the High Court (Organization and Administration) Act.
The Registrar oversees the administration of all High Court stations, Divisions and Sub-registries. The office manages registries, establishes registry procedures, maintains court records, and monitors registries procedures to ensure efficiency and high-quality service. Additionally, the Registrar is responsible for preparing reports and proposals, planning and organizing staff development, and overseeing the court’s budgeting process.
In the administration, management and implementation of High Court activities, the Registrar is supported by Deputy Registrars and Judicial staff deployed at every High Court Station, Divisions and Sub-registries.
Hon Clara Otieno-Omondi
Hon. Clara Otieno-Omondi was appointed as the Registrar of the High Court on 26th July 2023. She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya with over 19 Years post admission experience. She joined the Bench as a Resident Magistrate rising to the rank of Senior Principal Magistrate. She was the first Head of Station of Ruiru Law Courts, which was recognised as the best court station in the category of courts with 3,000 cases and above in the 6th PMMU cycle FY 2020/2021. In 2021, she received the LSK Nairobi Branch Chair’s Award for the work at Ruiru Law Courts. She has served at the Judiciary Training Institute where she coordinated training programs for Judicial Officers and Judiciary Staff, participated in research projects aimed at shaping policies in the Judiciary Prior to Joining the bench, she served as a litigation associate in Ocharo & Co. Advocates.
Hon. Otieno – Omondi holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi, Masters of Law (LL.M) from the University of South Africa and a Master in Public Administration from the University of Nairobi. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law, is a CPS Graduate and has attended the Strategic Leadership Development Program at Kenya School of Government. Hon. Otieno is passionate about excellence in Public Service.
Functions of The Registrar
Achievements
Functions of The Registrar
The Registrar performs such duties as the Chief Registrar or the Principal Judge may direct, and in particular is responsible for —
- Setting up of the registry and maintenance of the registers of the Court.
- Day to day administration and management of the Court;
- Overseeing of support services in the Court including the planning, development and the organization of staff;
- Monitoring of administration and office procedures to uphold efficiency and quality of service;
- Planning, preparation and implementation of the budget of the Court;
- Preparation of reports and proposals on administrative issues as may be required from time to time;
- Overseeing the procurement and disposal of assets;
- Acceptance, transmission, service and custody of documents in accordance with the law;
- Facilitation of the enforcement of the decisions of the Court;
- Certification of any order, direction or decision as an order, direction or decision of the Court, the Chief justice or a Judge, as the case may be;
- Causing to be kept records of the proceedings and minutes of the meetings of the Court and such other records as the Court may direct;
- Management of the library of the Court;
- Facilitation of access to judgments and records of the Court.
Achievements
The Office of the Registrar High Court has been able to fulfill the following milestones since establishment in 2012;
- Developed a modern registry design and piloted it in Milimani Family Division. The plan was subsequently replicated as part of the registry designs in the Judiciary infrastructure plan.
- Launched the Milimani Law Courts Customer service centre on 27th January 2020 to serve as a one stop shop for inquiries and to assist the general public on court procedures. The centre was instrumental during the COVID 19 Pandemic in ensuring continuity of court services. The centre also provided e-filing support after the launch of E-filing in Nairobi in July 2020 facilitating transition from manual to online service.
- Development of a High Court Strategic Plan 2021-2025.
- Development of the High Court Practice Directions guidelines to standardize Practice and Procedure in the High Court.
- Development of the records appraisal and disposal guidelines, guiding stations on the records appraisal and disposal process.
- Development of guidelines on handling pro-bono claims (in conjunction with the office of the Registrar Magistrates court) to guide payment of pro-bono briefs.
- In conjunction with Kenya School of Government (KSG), developed a records management training curriculum.
- The court prepared an infrastructure master plan which was then consolidated with the Judiciary infrastructure master plan.
Previous Registrars
Meet our previous Registrars
2022 - 2023
Hon Pauline Mbulikah
Hon Pauline Mbulikah is a law graduate from Moi University with post graduate diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law. Prior to her Elevation to Ag Registrar of the High Court, she had served as a Resident magistrate and Senior Resident Magistrate in Kisumu, Nairobi, Deputy Registrar in Milimani Law Court-Family Division and Office of the Registrar High Court.
2011 - 2022
Hon Lady Justice Judith Omange ELCJ
Hon Judith Omange, an alumni of the University of Nairobi, served as the Registrar of the High Court during the period 2012-2022. She oversaw the establishment of a fully-fledged professional secretariat that performs the day to day administration of the High Court. During her tenure, Hon Omange conceptualized and oversaw the development and implementation of the High Court Registry Operation Manual which resulted in the implementation of the case management system. Lady Justice Omange was appointed an Environment and Land Court Judge on 14th September 2022.
Connect With Us
The Registrar High Court – Milimani Law Courts Building.
Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm