Judicial Service Commission nominates 34 new High Court, ELC judges
The Judicial Service Commission, led by Chairperson and Chief Justice Martha Koome, issued a detailed statement on the recruitment and selection of judges to the High Court and the Environment and Land Court.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has nominated 34 judges for appointment to the High Court and the Environment and Land Court (ELC).
The JSC said in a statement on Friday that it was in the process of transmitting the names of the nominees to President William Ruto for appointment, pursuant to Article 166(1)(b) of the Constitution.
The nominees include 24 judges of the High Court and 13 judges of the ELC.
Upon appointment, the number of judges in the High Court will increase from 91 to 115, while those in the ELC will rise from 48 to 61.
“This expansion of judicial capacity will enhance access to justice by improving the judge-to-case ratio, expediting the hearing and determination of cases, and contributing to the sustained reduction of case backlog,” the CJ said in a statement.
Among the nominees are 13 magistrates who have been elevated to the High Court. They are Robison Ondieki, Roseline Oganyo, Paul Rotich, Joyce Gandani, Joseph Maloba Were, Richard Koech, David Mburu, Dominic Rono, Winnie Molonko and Dickson Onyango.
Others are Alex Kimanzi Ithuku, Martha Mutuku, Benard Wafula Murunga, Francis Nyungu Kyambia, Letizia Muthoni Wachira, Kennedy Kandet and Judith Chelagt Mutai.
The JSC also recommended for nomination Joseph Biomdo, Anne Mary Auma, Abid Mohamud Hassan, Patricia Naeku and Catherine Kassim, Emmanuel Bitta, a State counsel in the office of the Attorney-General and Dr Nabil Orina, the current chair of the Land Acquisition tribunal.
The ELC nominees, who include nine magistrates, are John Walter Wanyonyi, Jecinta Atieno Orwa, Peter Musyimi, Cyprian Nguthari, Charity Chebii Oluoch, Gerhard Gitonga Muchege, and Charles Ondieki.
Others are Dr Robert Omondi, Lilian Tsuma Lewa, Belinda Akoth Akello, Ben Mark Ekhubi, Josephat Kuyioni and Elena Gathoni Nderitu.
The Commission said it received 1,100 applications for the High Court, from which 377 candidates were shortlisted and 243 applications for the Environment and Land Court, with 50 candidates shortlisted.
In January, President Ruto appointed 15 judges of the Court of Appeal.
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