JSC nominates 37 to be Judges as CJ intimates corrupt heads to roll

Chief Justice Martha Koome. [File, Standard]

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) yesterday forwarded to President William Ruto 37 nominees to be appointed as High Court and Environment and Land Court (ELC) Judges.In the list, the commission headed by Chief Justice Martha Koome nominated 21 magistrates, with the High Court taking the lion’s share of the nominees, with 13 of them.

 This comes as Justice Koome vowed that the commission will hunt down magistrates and judges who were implicated in graft, following a report from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

 The CJ said that the commission had dispatched a team involving the registrar of the judiciary, Wilfrida Mokaya, to the commission for a review of the findings to enable the commission to develop concrete action.

“Our position is simple - and firm: we do not tolerate corruption. We cannot be discharging justice at the same time committing a crime,” said Koome.

Those nominated for the High Court Judges position are magistrates Robinson Ondieki, Roseline Akinyi Oganyo, Paul Kipkosgei Rotich, Joyce Mkambe Gandani, Joseph Maloba Were, Richard Kipkemoi Koech, David Wanjohi Mburu, Dickson Odhiambo Onyango, Alex Kimanzi Ithuku, Martha Wanzila Mutuku, Francis Nyungu Kyambia, Letizia Muthoni Wachira and Kennedy Lenkamai Kandet.

Bernard Murunga, the immediate former Sports Tribunal chair, was also nominated by the commission to be a judge.

The commission also took a senior State lawyer at the Attorney General’s office, Emmanuel Bitta, Dr.Nabil Mokaya from academia and Dominic Rono, Winnie Narasha, Judith Mutai, Joseph Kipkoech, Anne Auma, Patricia Naeku, and Catherine Kassim from legal practice.

The commission had advertised for 20 High Court Judge positions. This attracted 377 applications, with only 100 shortlisted.

However, four Judges from the High Court were elevated to the Court of Appeal, which created a further four vacancies.

If the President appoints the 24, the number of High Court Judges will increase from the current 91 to 115.

For the ELC, the commission nominated seven magistrates, one from academia and three from practice.

They appointed magistrates Jecinta Atieno, Cyprian Mugambi, Charity Chebii, Gerhard Gitonga, Charles Nchore, Lillian Tsuma, Ben Mark Ekhubi and Elena Gathoni. From teaching law, JSC took Dr. Robert Omondi, while John Wanyonyi, Peter Musyimi, and Bellinda Akoth made it to the bench from the legal bar.

JSC was looking for 10 candidates to fill in the division. However, two Judges moved to the Court of Appeal while one retired. For this, JSC added three more vacancies.

The positions had 243 applications, from which it shortlisted 50 candidates.

“These processes were rigorous, transparent, and competitive, and were conducted in full view of the public through live broadcast. They entailed public advertisement of vacancies, public participation before shortlisting, and comprehensive vetting of candidates in strict compliance with the Constitution of Kenya, the Judicial Service Act, and applicable regulations,” the CJ said.

On corruption, she stated that the commission is in the process of finalizing regulations which will guide the removal of judges. At the same time, she said that the judiciary will continue working with the EACC to ensure robust integrity systems within.

According to the CJ, anyone who sees or encounters corruption from the judiciary should simply report it.

“This is the direction of travel: more transparency, more accountability, and less room for misconduct. If you encounter corruption - report it. Whether it involves a judge, a magistrate, a kadhi, a registrar, or a member of staff. Accountability is a shared responsibility,” Koome, who is also the head of the judiciary, asserted.

EACC, in a survey titled 'Kenya National Gender and Corruption Survey, 2025', indicated that judicial officers received the highest average bribe at Sh164,367. more than any other category of public servant.

 Most payments were made in cash.

 Some citizens who paid these bribes reported monthly incomes of less than Sh10,000.

 Male judicial officers accounted for most bribery incidents, with 75 per cent of solicitations attributed to men, compared with 25 per cent to women.

 Service seekers said they most frequently interacted with female magistrates (28 per cent), female judges (23 per cent) and female civil registration officials (22 per cent).