Ruto Appoints 15 New Judges to the Court of Appeal
President William Ruto has officially appointed 15 new judges to the Court of Appeal after receiving their names from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The appointments were gazetted on Tuesday, making the judges’ elevation to the country’s second-highest court formal and legally binding.
The move follows the successful completion of public interviews and vetting by the JSC, which was carried out last week. During the process, candidates were assessed on integrity, professional competence, experience, and suitability to serve at the appellate level.
Among those appointed are Hedwig Imbosa Ong’udi, Mathews Nduma Nderi, Linnet Mumo Ndolo, Enock Chacha Mwita, Lucy Mwihaki Njuguna, Samson Odhiambo Okongo, and Rachel Chepkoech Ngetich.
The list also includes Joseph Kipchumba Kigen Katwa, a longtime friend and lawyer to President Ruto, Stephen Andersen Radido Okiyo, Brown Murungi Kairaria, former Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan, Paul Lilan, Munyao Sila, Johnson Okoth Okello, and Justice Byram Ongaya.
These appointments are expected to significantly strengthen the Court of Appeal, which plays a key role in Kenya’s justice system by hearing appeals from the High Court and select tribunals. The judges review both civil and criminal cases where parties believe errors were made in earlier rulings.
With the addition of the 15 judges, the total number of Court of Appeal judges rises from 27 to 42. This increase is aimed at boosting the court’s capacity to hear and determine cases more efficiently, especially at a time when the Judiciary is implementing reforms to address long-standing case backlogs.
Despite these efforts, Kenya’s judiciary continues to struggle with a heavy workload. However, recent data shows gradual progress. According to the State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice (SOJAR) Report for the 2023/24 financial year, the total number of pending cases across all courts dropped from 272,678 in June 2023 to 244,267 by June 2024.
The report shows that Magistrates’ Courts still carry the largest share of unresolved cases. At the Court of Appeal, pending cases stood at 5,822 by the end of June 2024, down from 6,942 the previous year. This reduction, though modest, points to improved efficiency in handling appeals.
The newly appointed judges are now expected to take up their roles immediately, helping to clear the backlog, improve access to justice, and strengthen confidence in Kenya’s appellate system.
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