Prominent lawyer Katwa Kigen, a long-time associate of President William Ruto and one of his former defence lawyers at the International Criminal Court (ICC), has been shortlisted among 35 candidates seeking appointment to the Court of Appeal.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) released the list after concluding the application process for 15 available positions at the appellate level. The recruitment aims to strengthen the capacity of the Court of Appeal, which has been struggling with a mounting backlog of cases.
According to JSC, the application window closed on July 7, 2025, with a total of 94 applicants expressing interest. After vetting the submissions, 35 candidates met the qualification criteria and were cleared for the next stage of the selection process.
The list features some of Kenya’s most experienced judicial officers and legal minds, 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 shortlisted include Justice (Dr) Joseph Kiplagat Sergon, Justice Yuvinalis Maronga Angima, Justice Oscar Amugo Angote, and Justice Hedwig Imbosa Ong’udi,all seasoned judges within the High Court and its various divisions.
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Also in the running are Dr Lucy Wanja Julius and Justice Elijah Obaga Ogoti, who bring extensive legal expertise and years of experience to the competition for the appellate bench. JSC noted that the interview schedule for the shortlisted candidates will be announced soon, after which successful nominees will be forwarded to the President for formal appointment.
This recruitment drive marks the first major hiring exercise since the Judiciary halted all recruitments nearly a year ago, following a 15 per cent budget reduction imposed by the national government.
Under Article 167 (1) of the Constitution, judges appointed to the Court of Appeal serve until the mandatory retirement age of 70, though they may opt for early retirement at 65.
Once appointed, appellate judges are entitled to a monthly salary package ranging from Ksh775, 845 to Ksh1, 187,152, as outlined by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
To qualify for the prestigious role, applicants must possess a law degree from a recognised institution or an equivalent qualification, have at least 10 years of service as a superior court judge, and meet the constitutional and statutory standards set under Article 166 of the Constitution and the Judicial Service Act.
