NAIROBI, Kenya – The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has suspended its recruitment process for 11 new judges for the Court of Appeal.
This decision comes in response to the National Treasury’s directive to reduce expenditure by 15p.c, limiting spending to only essential services.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, who also chairs the JSC, highlighted the significant impact of the budget cuts on the judiciary’s operations.
“We are compelled to make major adjustments to planned programs and activities. Regrettably, this has necessitated the decision by the JSC to suspend all pending recruitments, including the 11 Judges of the Court of Appeal, which was scheduled to commence today,” Koome stated.
The Court of Appeal currently has 29 judges serving in six stations nationwide, operating with nine benches at any time.
As of May 2024, there are 13,331 pending cases, emphasizing the urgent need for additional judges.
To enhance access to justice and reduce the case backlog, the JSC successfully pursued amendments to the Judicature Act, increasing the maximum number of judges in the Court of Appeal from 30 to 70.
On February 9, 2024, the Commission advertised 11 vacancies aimed at significantly reducing pending cases. However, these efforts have now been halted due to the new financial constraints.
Following the tragic death of Justice Monica Kivuti at the Makadara Law Courts, the JSC has had to restructure and reallocate its budget to enhance security arrangements.
Ensuring a safe environment for all court users is a priority, necessitating additional resources in FY 2024/2025 to address these immediate concerns.
Chief Justice Koome reiterated the importance of a well-functioning judiciary for maintaining public order and respect for the rule of law.
She committed to engaging with the Executive and the Legislature to secure enhanced funding for the Judiciary and the JSC.
“In exercising our mandate of advising the National Government on improving efficiency in the administration of justice, the JSC will engage Parliament and the Executive to enhance and secure the Judiciary and the JSC budget,” she concluded.
