Chief Justice Martha Koome has announced 45 new judicial appointments in a significant move to strengthen Kenya’s superior courts, months after a prior recruitment exercise was shelved due to financial constraints. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) revealed the openings in a Gazette Notice dated June 4, 2025.
The vacancies include 15 positions in the Court of Appeal, 20 for High Court judges, and 10 in the Environment and Land Court. This development marks a revival of a halted recruitment process that was suspended in January 2025 after Treasury-imposed budget cuts limited the Judiciary’s ability to hire.
“In accordance with section 30 of the Judicial Service Commission Act, and section 3 of the First Schedule of the Judicial Service Act 2011, I, Martha Koome, Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya and Chairperson of the JSC, declare vacancies in the Office of the Judge of the Court of Appeal,” read part of the Gazette Notice.
This announcement comes amid continued calls for enhanced judicial capacity to handle a growing backlog of cases and improve access to justice. It also signals renewed cooperation between the Judiciary, Executive, and Legislature, which pledged support for increased funding during a meeting in early 2024.
The previously advertised vacancies, announced on February 9, 2024, had included 11 Court of Appeal and five High Court positions. However, the JSC was forced to recall the advertisements on January 22, 2025, due to austerity measures stemming from a directive by the National Treasury that required a 15 per cent reduction in Judiciary spending.
At the time, Chief Justice Koome emphasized that the decision was difficult but necessary to comply with the budgetary directive, adding that only essential expenditures would be supported moving forward.
With the resumption of the recruitment process, there is renewed hope that the Judiciary will soon gain the capacity it urgently needs to manage an expanding workload and ensure the timely delivery of justice across Kenya. The move is also a signal that the government may be prioritizing judicial reforms and operational efficiency as part of its broader governance agenda.
