The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has announced the cancellation of previously advertised vacancies for judges of the Superior Courts.
In a public notice published in local dailies, JSC attributed the decision to financial constraints brought about by budget cuts.
“This is to notify the general public and the applicants and/or shortlisted candidates but owing to financial constraints caused by budget cuts, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has canceled the advertisements for the following positions,” the notice read in part.
The affected positions include eleven vacancies for Judges of the Court of Appeal and five vacancies for Judges of the High Court of Kenya.
Both sets of vacancies were initially advertised on February 9, 2024, according to the notice put out by the JSC.
The Commission expressed regret for any inconveniences caused to applicants and shortlisted candidates.
The revocation comes five months after the JSC suspended recruitment for 11 Court of Appeal judges due to funding constraints imposed by the National Treasury. Chief Justice Martha Koome, who chairs the JSC, cited budget cuts as the main reason for the suspension.
The judiciary, under increasing scrutiny over alleged corruption and executive interference, has struggled with a backlog of cases. The Court of Appeal, staffed by 29 judges across six stations, had 13,331 pending cases as of May 2024. To address this, the JSC lobbied for amendments to the Judicature Act, raising the maximum number of appellate judges from 30 to 70.
Following the amendments, the JSC declared 11 vacancies in February 2024, receiving 41 applications—32 from judges and nine from lawyers. However, concerns over candidates’ qualifications and the selection process reportedly influenced the revocations.
The judiciary’s capacity challenges remain unresolved, with the demand for more judges critical to reducing case backlogs and ensuring timely justice.
This latest development underscores ongoing challenges in balancing judicial needs, budgetary constraints, and adherence to procedural integrity.
