NAIROBI, Kenya – Chief Justice Martha Koome has gazetted the appointment of more than 200 magistrates to handle specialised cases across Kenya, in a move aimed at speeding up the resolution of corruption, land, and labour disputes.
The appointments, published in Kenya Gazette notices dated October 10 and 19, 2025, are part of the Judiciary’s ongoing reforms to enhance efficiency and strengthen the capacity of subordinate courts.
According to the notices, six magistrates have been designated to preside over anti-corruption and economic crimes cases.
They are Maureen Iberia, Victoria Achieng Ochanda, Janette Wandia Nyamu, Wilson Kipchumba Kitur, Christabel Irene Agutu, and Japheth Cheruiyot Bii.
A further 58 magistrates will handle environment and land disputes — an area that has long suffered from case backlogs due to Kenya’s high volume of land ownership and boundary-related conflicts.
Among those appointed are Kemei Silas Kandie, Akida Kassim, Elizabeth Khanali, Mwera Atamba Lynn, and Ng’ang’a Catherine Wanjiru.
In what marks the largest of the three categories, 144 magistrates have been appointed to manage employment and labour relations matters.
These will include disputes involving workers earning up to Sh80,000 in monthly wages, as well as offences under key labour laws such as the Employment Act (2007), Work Injury Benefits Act (2007), Labour Institutions Act (2007), Occupational Safety and Health Act (2007), and Labour Relations Act (2007).
CJ Koome said the designations were made pursuant to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (2003), the Environment and Land Court Act (2011), and the Employment and Labour Relations Court Act (2011).
She noted that the move is intended to deepen judicial access and streamline case management by ensuring that specialised cases are handled by judicial officers with relevant expertise.
“These appointments are designed to enhance access to justice, improve efficiency, and ensure that citizens receive timely and consistent judgments, particularly in complex or technical areas of law,” Koome said in the notice.
The Judiciary has in recent years prioritised the expansion of specialised courts as part of broader institutional reforms to clear case backlogs and decentralise access to justice.
The latest appointments are expected to further that effort by extending specialised judicial services beyond the High Court and making them more accessible to the public at the magistrates’ court level.
The announcement comes amid growing calls for quicker and more consistent handling of corruption, land, and labour disputes — areas often characterised by delays and technical complexity.
By expanding the pool of magistrates trained to manage these matters, the Judiciary hopes to uphold constitutional principles of access to justice, efficiency, and accountability.
