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JSC suspends recruitment of Court of Appeal judges over budget cut

Chief Justice Martha Koome addresses a memorial service in Nairobi on June 20, 2024, in honour of Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti. (Photo: JSC)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Koome noted that the Judiciary will need more resources in the Financial Year 2024-2025 to address some of its immediate concerns, a reason for its planned engagement with Parliament and the Executive.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has suspended the recruitment of 11 Court of Appeal judges in response to an expenditure cut directive from the National Treasury.

The National Treasury issued Circular No. 6/2024, dated June 28, 2024, instructing the Judiciary to cut its expenditure by at least 15 per cent in the appropriated budget, a move that Chief Justice JSC chair Martha Koome noted would have "far-reaching consequences".

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Koome made the announcement on Wednesday, saying, "We are compelled to make major adjustments to planned programmes 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."

The JSC Statement on suspension of the recruitment of Judges of the Court of Appeal. pic.twitter.com/gGmSmC3Dqi
— Judicial Service Commission Kenya (JSC) (@jsckenya) July 3, 2024

The Court of Appeal has 29 Judges in six stations across the country, meaning nine benches are available at any given time to handle cases, the CJ explained.

The Judiciary has been grappling with a backlog of cases, with the Court of Appeal recording 13,331 pending matters as of May this year.

To improve access to justice and reduce the backlog, the JSC successfully pushed for changes to the Judicature Act, increasing the maximum number of judges in the Court of Appeal from 30 to 70.

The JSC then announced 11 vacancies at the Court of Appeal and invited applications on February 9. In April, the commission shortlisted 41 candidates, 32 of them currently serving as judges and nine as lawyers.

Koome also addresses challenges including insecurity, following the fatal shooting of Makadara Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti.

"We need to restructure and reallocate our budget to enhance security arrangements. This will ensure a safe environment for everyone using our courts, including the public," she said.

Koome noted that the Judiciary will need more resources in the Financial Year 2024-2025 to address some of its immediate concerns, a reason for its planned engagement with Parliament and the Executive.

"We will work to enhance and secure the budget for the Judiciary and the JSC," she said.