The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is set to commence interviews this morning for the recruitment of 15 judges of the Court of Appeal.
Those to be interviewed today are Prof Migai Aketch, a professor of law at the University of Nairobi, Justices Yuvinalis Angima and Oscar Angote, both judges of the Environment and Land court, Protas Saende, an advocate of the High Court and Ahmed Isaack Hassan, chairman of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The court currently has 27 Judges stationed in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nyeri, Kisumu and Nakuru. The required number of 70.
The JSC shortlisted 35 candidates for the interviews and the list includes 21 judges and 14 advocates.
The advocates include Mr Katwa Kigen, Waweru Guandaru, Paul Lilan (chairperson Capital Markets Tribunal), Dr Lucy Wanja, a law lecturer Mount Kenya University, Dr Joseph Arimba, Brown Murungi, Jacqueline Mbithe Mwinzi, a deputy solicitor general and Johnson Okoth Okelo, the director of legal services at the Parliamentary Service Commission.
The judges seeking to be elevated to the appellate court are Justices Chacha Mwita, Hedwig Ong’udi, Dr Joseph Kiplagat, Sila Munyao and Byram Ongaya, who is also the presiding judge of the Employment and Labour court.
Judges of the Court of Appeal will earn a gross monthly remuneration package of between Sh775,845 and Sh1.187 million, excluding benefits.
To become a judge of the Court of Appeal, one has to have at least ten years’ experience as a judge of the High Court and courts of equal status or a professionally qualified magistrate, or have at least ten years’ experience as a distinguished academic, or legal practitioner or such experience in other relevant legal field.
Judges serve up to 70 years but have the option of retiring at 65 years.
Soon after completing interviews for judges of the Court of Appeal, the JSC will embark on interviews of High Court judges and later judges of the Environment and Land court.
