Magistrate Emily Ominde joins Judicial Service Commission

Senior Magistrate Emily Ominde

High Court judge Aggrey Muchelule and Makadara Senior Magistrate Emily Ominde will represent judicial officers at the Judicial Service Commission.

The two will represent the over 600 magistrates and judges at the commission.

Ms Ominde beat Hellen Onkwani, Doreen Mulekyo, Julie Oseko and Teresia Matheka in a closely contested race during the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association polls held at Panari Hotel on Saturday. Justice Muchelule was elected in 2013 during the judicial officers annual general meeting.

Among the immediate responsibilities the JSC will be tasked with is the recruitment of the Chief Justice after the incumbent, Willy Mutunga, indicated he will retire in June next year.

Two other judges Deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal and Philip Tunoi have reached retirement age of 70, but insist they are supposed to retire at 74. They have challenged the decision to retire them in the High Court.

JSC will also be filling four positions at the Court of Appeal, promotions of magistrates and harmonisation of salaries for judicial officers.

Current JSC members include Dr Mutunga, Smokin Wanjala (Supreme Court), Mohammed Warsame (Court of Appeal) and Aggrey Muchelule (High Court).