JSC Withdraws Court of Appeal, High Court Vacancies

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has revoked 16 judicial vacancies for the Court of Appeal and High Court, citing procedural concerns.

In a Kenya Gazette notice dated January 15, the JSC withdrew 11 vacancies for the Court of Appeal and five for the High Court. The vacancies were initially declared in Gazette Notices No. 1076 (January 30, 2024), No. 4932 (April 22, 2024), and No. 1271 (February 5, 2024). These notices had detailed the application process, shortlisted candidates, and interview schedules.

The revocation comes five months after the JSC suspended recruitment for 11 Court of Appeal judges due to funding constraints imposed by the National Treasury. Chief Justice Martha Koome, who chairs the JSC, cited budget cuts as the main reason for the suspension.

The judiciary, under increasing scrutiny over alleged corruption and executive interference, has struggled with a backlog of cases. The Court of Appeal, staffed by 29 judges across six stations, had 13,331 pending cases as of May 2024. To address this, the JSC lobbied for amendments to the Judicature Act, raising the maximum number of appellate judges from 30 to 70.

Following the amendments, the JSC declared 11 vacancies in February 2024, receiving 41 applications—32 from judges and nine from lawyers. However, concerns over candidates’ qualifications and the selection process reportedly influenced the revocations.

The judiciary’s capacity challenges remain unresolved, with the demand for more judges critical to reducing case backlogs and ensuring timely justice.

This latest development underscores ongoing challenges in balancing judicial needs, budgetary constraints, and adherence to procedural integrity.