Forty one jobs for judges up for grabs

The Judiciary is set to hire 41 judges to help deal with the backlog of cases.

Chief Justice David Maraga gazetted the vacancies on Friday, immediately after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) approved the recruitment.

Candidates with at least 10 years’ experience in legal practice and have the requisite academic qualifications are to compete for the jobs that will see those qualified employed to ease the shortage currently being experienced by the Judiciary.

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Allen Gichuhi called on members to apply for the jobs, adding that the country needs dedicated public servants who can give back to society.

In the Court of Appeal, Maraga said there are 11 posts to be filled by candidates who will be expected to hear and determine appeals arising from the High Court or tribunals.

Applicants are expected to have at least 10 years’ experience in the country’s or another Commonwealth law jurisdiction.

Some of the statutory requirements that cuts across the 41 vacancies are that only those with morally-upright character, integrity as per Chapter Six of the Constitution and are impartial, should apply.

In the Environment and Land Court, which is one of the divisions with a huge backlog of cases, the JSC plans to recruit 20 judges. It is this court that has the mandate to hear and determine disputes relating to environmental planning, title deeds, land tenure, boundaries, rates, rents, valuations, mining, minerals and other natural resources.

It also deals with disputes relating to compulsory acquisition of land, and exercises appellate jurisdiction over the decisions of subordinate courts or local tribunals in respect to land and environment.

At the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC), Maraga declared 10 vacancies and added three more sub-registries for the division.

In the new sub-registry in Kisii, cases filed shall be handled by a judge of the ELRC based in Kisumu. Kitale is to be under a judge in Eldoret, while a judge of the court based in Mombasa is to oversee Voi.