Judiciary cancels recruitment of 16 judges citing budget constraints
By Arnold Ngure, January 22, 2025
The Judiciary has announced the revocation of the recruitment of 16 judges in the Court of Appeal and the High court, citing financial inadequacies.
In an advertisement published in the local dailies on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya said the cancellation was necessitated by budget cuts in the arm of the government.
“This is to notify the general public and the applicants and/or shortlisted candidates that owing to financial constraints caused by budget cuts, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has cancelled the advertisement of 11 judges of the court of appeal and five judges of the high court of Kenya,” the notice read in part.
“The commission regrets any inconvenience caused.”
Recruitment process
The vacancies were advertised on February 9, 2024, where the applicants were required to be practising advocates in the High Court of Kenya with valid law degrees from recognized universities in the country.
“Pursuant to Section 30 of the Judicial Service Act and Section 3 Part II of the First Schedule, of the Judiciary Act 2011, I Martha K. Koome, Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya, for and on behalf of the Judiciary of Kenya, declare vacancies in the Office of Judge of the High Court of the Republic of Kenya,” the notice read
The candidates were equally required to have at least 10 years of practice as a superior court judge or a professionally qualified magistrate.
In 2024, the Judiciary received 82 applications for the 11 judges of the Court of Appeal while 41 were shortlisted for interviews.
Ruto promises funding
This had come after President William Ruto met with Chief Justice Martha Koome, National Assembly speaker Moses Wetang’ula and then chairperson of the Council of Governors Anne Waiguru among other senior state officials on January 22, 2024, and agreed to channel more funding to the judiciary.
“Resources will also be provided to conclude the vehicle leasing program to facilitate the judiciary’s transport needs,” a statement from the State House read.
The meeting resolved to employ 36 judges to help handle cases in the court of appeal and the high courts in the country.
The resources were intended to go towards the recruitment of 25 high court judges and 11 Court of Appeal judges.