The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has named 15 judges for appointment to the Court of Appeal, expanding the number of judges at the appellate court to 42.
The increase in number of judges is aimed at clearing backlogs, shorten appeal timelines and improve access to justice nationwide.
On Thursday, the commission said it was in the process of transmitting the names of successful nominees to President William Ruto for formal appointment.
Those nominated are 11 men and four women, including 10 serving judges of the High Court, Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) and Environment and Land court (ELC), as well as five legal practitioners and senior advocates.
Among them are High Court judges Hedwig Ong’udi, Enock Chacha Mwita, Lucy Njuguna and Rachel Ngetich.
More JSC nominees.
Photo credit: Pool
Also picked are ELRC judges Mathews Nduma Nderi, Linnet Ndolo, Byram Ongaya, and Stephen Radido. Justices Sila Munyao and Samson Okong’o previously served as judges of the ELC.
Others are the Independent Police Oversight Authority Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan, Capital Markets Tribunal Chair Paul Lilan, Senior Counsel Katwa Kigen, Brown Kairaria, and Johnson Okello, who is the director of legal services at the Parliamentary Service Commission.
The court currently grapples with thousands of pending appeals, many involving commercial, constitutional and electoral disputes.
In her statement, Chief Justice Martha Koome said the appointments reaffirmed the commission’s “unwavering commitment to the effective, efficient and transparent administration of justice”.
She congratulated the nominees and thanked the public for participating in a process she said strengthened confidence in the Judiciary.
The nominations now await presidential appointment and swearing-in, marking one of the largest single expansions of the appellate bench since the 2010 Constitution, at a time when pressure is mounting on courts to deliver faster, credible and predictable justice system.
The JSC said the process was “rigorous, transparent, competitive, and transmitted live”, underscoring renewed efforts to insulate judicial appointments from political influence and public suspicion.
Vacancies were publicly advertised, citizens invited to submit memoranda, and shortlisted candidates subjected to open interviews and comprehensive scrutiny.
According to the commission, merit and integrity were paramount, alongside gender parity, inclusivity and regional balance. Candidates were assessed on legal competence, communication skills, judgement, temperament and commitment to constitutionalism and public services.
The JSC will now embark on interviews for judges of the High Court judges and later judges of the Environment and Land Court.
The JSC also announced a vacancy at the Supreme Court, following the death of Justice Mohammed Ibrahim late last year.
