Lawyer Katwa Kigen, a close ally of President William Ruto and one of his former defence lawyers at the ICC, is among 35 Kenyans shortlisted for appointment as judges of the Court of Appeal.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced the shortlist following the advertisement of 15 vacancies in the Appellate Court, with the recruitment targeting key positions in the Court of Appeal to enhance efficiency and address a growing case backlog.
According to JSC, at the close of the application period on July 7, 2025, it received a total of 94 applications. After reviewing the submissions for compliance with the requirements, it shortlisted 35 candidates for the next stage of the selection process.
Among the shortlisted candidates by the commission are prominent judicial figures and legal practitioners, including High Court Judge Justice Chacha Mwita, Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Stephen Radido, and Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Chairperson Isaack Hassan.
Others on the list include Justice (Dr) Joseph Kiplagat Sergon, Justice Yuvinalis Maronga Angima, Justice Oscar Amugo Angote, and Justice Hedwig Imbosa Ong’udi, all of whom have served in the High Court and other judicial divisions.
Also shortlisted are Dr Lucy Wanja Julius and Justice Elijah Obaga Ogoti, who are all hopeful that their experience and legal expertise will be considered for the appellate bench.
At the same time, JSC noted that the interview schedule for the shortlisted candidates will be communicated in due course, with the final list of nominees set to be forwarded to the President for formal appointment.
The latest round of recruitment comes nearly a year after the Judiciary suspended all recruitment, attributing the move to the government's decision to cut its budget by at least 15 per cent.
Meanwhile, the position for a judge at the Court of Appeal comes with a retirement age of 70 years, with the option of early retirement at 65, according to Article 167 (1) of the Constitution.
Court of Appeal judges who get the job will be entitled to a gross monthly remuneration ranging from Ksh775,845 to Ksh1,187,152, based on guidelines from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
To be considered an appellate court judge, one must meet strict constitutional and statutory requirements, including a law degree from a recognised university or its equivalent.
Candidates are also expected to have at least 10 years of experience as a superior court judge and must also meet the standards set out in Article 166 of the Constitution and the Judicial Service Act.
