Council of Governors’ Chief Executive officer Jacqueline Omogeni is among the few women and surprises in the list of judges appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to the Environment and Land Courts (ELC).

In the gazette notice dated Thursday, June 3, the President appointed 18 judges, eight of whom are women while the rest are male to head the court division in the remaining 11 counties.

Already, 26 counties have judges that hear that land related matters. ELC currently has 33 judges.

In what looks like a move to appease the judiciary over his recent outbursts against it and to quell the criticisms from various quarters over his failure to act on the recommendations by the Judicial service commission issued two years ago, President Kenyatta also appointed seven judges to the court of appeal.

They are Msagha Mbogholi,Hellen Omondi, Mumbi Ngugi, Fracis Tuiyot, Pauline Nyaboke, Jessie Lessit, and Kibaya Laibuta.

He has, however, left out four of the 11 recommended by the JSC.

Those omitted despite being recommended are Justice Joel Mwaura Ngugi, George Odunga, Weldon Korir and Aggre Muchelule.

Ngugi and Odunga are among the five judges who recently threw away the BBI constitutional bill terming it illegal and unconstitutional.

In making the approval, JSC wanted to increase the number of judges from the current 19 to 30.

This now means COA has a shortfall of four judges.

The President also appointed nine judges to the employment and labor relations court.

They are Baari Christine, Gakeri Jacob, Keli Jemima, Mwaure Ann, Matanga Benard, Rutto Stella, Kebira Ocharo, Kitiku Agnes Mueni, and David Njagi.