NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 2 — The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has commenced recruitment interviews to list twenty new High Court judges following the shortlisting of 100 candidates.
The 11-member panel convened in Nairobi on Wednesday kicking off the exercise expected to last a month.
The eleven are Chief Justice Martha Koome, Justice Mohammed Ibrahim (Supreme Court), Justice Fatuma Sichale (Court of Appeal), Justice David Majanja (High Court), Attorney General Justin Muturi (Ex Officio), Chief Magistrate Everlyne Olwande (Magistrates’ Courts), Macharia Njeru (LSK), Jacqueline Ingutiah (LSK), Caroline Nzilani (Public) Isaac Ruto (Public), and Charity Kisotu (Public Service Commission).
The Commission shortlisted 100 candidates from a pool of 350 applicants after the application window closed on November 3, 2023, at 5 pm.
The Commission, chaired by the Chief Justice, declared vacancies in the High Court through a gazette notice published on October 6, 2023.
The High Court is established under Article 165 of the Constitution and sits below the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
Nominee judges are appointed by the President in line with JSC recommendations.
The High Court — comprised of multiple judges across the Constitutional, Civil, Employment, and Environment — is headed by a Principal Judge elected by judges.
The court exercises unlimited original jurisdiction in criminal and civil matters as well as jurisdiction to determine the question of whether a right or fundamental freedom in the Bill of Rights has been denied, violated, infringed, or threatened.
The Court also has jurisdiction to hear an appeal from a decision of a tribunal appointed under the Constitution to consider the removal of a person from office, other than tribunals appointed under Article 144.
The High Court also considers questions regarding the interpretation of the Constitution.
