15 Judges Nominated to Serve Court of Appeal

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has nominated 15 candidates for appointment as Judges of the Court of Appeal. JSC said the move is expected to significantly expand the court’s capacity and accelerate the resolution of pending cases. In a statement on Thursday, Chief Justice Martha Koome said the Commission had concluded a rigorous and transparent recruitment process and would forward the names to President William Ruto for appointment under the Constitution. The nominees include serving judges, senior practitioners and former public officials drawn from across the country. They are: Lady Justice Hedwig Imbosa Ong’udi, Justice Mathews Nduma Nderi, Lady Justice Linnet Mumo Ndolo, Justice Enock Chacha Mwita, Lady Justice Lucy Mwihaki Njuguna, Justice Samson Odhiambo Okongo, Lady Justice Rachel Chepkoech Ngetich, Justice Joseph Kipchumba Kigen Katwa and Justice Stephen Andersen Radido Okiyo. Others are Justice Brown Murungi Kairaria, Justice Ahmed Issack Hassan, Justice Paul Lilan, Justice Munyao Sila, Justice Johnson Okoth Okello and Justice Byram Ongaya. The Commission said the recruitment was publicly advertised and integrated public participation at multiple stages, including shortlisting and interviews, which were broadcast live. CS Koome added that vetting was conducted in accordance with the Constitution, the Judicial Service Act and relevant regulations. In making its selections, the JSC said it applied constitutional principles of merit, integrity, fairness, gender parity, inclusivity and regional balance. Candidates were assessed on competence, communication, integrity, judgment, experience and commitment to the rule of law and public service. Once appointed, the number of judges at the Court of Appeal will rise from 27 to 42, marking one of the most significant staffing boosts in recent years. The increase is intended to reduce the court’s case backlog and improve access to justice through faster determination of appeals. The JSC congratulated the nominees and thanked all applicants and members of the public who participated in the process, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and the efficient administration of justice. ADVERTISEMENT The Commission concluded interviews for candidates seeking appointment as judges of the Court of Appeal, the week-long interviews, which began on January 12, 2026, officially ended on Monday evening, January 21, 2026. The exercise saw a total of 35 shortlisted candidates appearing before the commission. The recruitment exercise sought to fill 15 vacancies at the Court of Appeal. The interviews were conducted in public and streamed live on YouTube and Facebook platforms, underscoring the commission’s commitment to transparency, accountability and public participation in judicial appointments. Throughout the sessions, candidates were taken through rigorous questioning on their judicial philosophy, integrity, professional experience and understanding of constitutional principles. The candidates highlighted their jurisprudential contributions, leadership roles within the judiciary and approaches to handling complex appellate matters. Once appointed, the new judges will join a court that plays a critical role in shaping Kenya’s jurisprudence by hearing appeals from the High Court and courts of equal status. The current shortlist was drawn from 95 applicants who expressed interest in the positions by the July 7, 2025, deadline, following the advertisement of the vacancies in June 2025. In addition to the appellate judges, the commission is also recruiting 20 High Court judges, 10 judges of the Environment and Land Court, 100 resident magistrates, and five Kadhis. The wider recruitment drive is aimed at addressing staffing gaps across the judiciary and improving the efficiency of courts at all levels.