JSC calls off judges' recruitment due to tight budget

Chief Justice Martha Koome. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has slammed the brakes on a planned recruitment of an additional eleven judges to the bench of the Court of Appeal.

JSC, in a statement on Wednesday, cited a directive from the National Treasury limiting its expenditure to only 15 percent of its appropriated budget thus limiting spending to critical and essential services.

"Currently, the Court of Appeal has a total of 29 Judges serving in only six stations across the country which translates to 9 benches at any given time. The court had a total of 13, 331 pending cases as at May 2024," said JSC Chairperson, Chief Justice Martha Koome.

"To enhance access to justice and reduce the huge case backlog the JSC successfully pursued amendments to the Judicature Act, Cap 8 Laws of Kenya thereby increasing the maximum number of Judges in the Court of Appeal from 30 to 70," she said.

JSC was to begin the recruitment of the new judges today, July 3, following vacancy announcements of the eleven posts on February 9, 2024.

The commission has also placed a freeze on all other pending recruitments of various judicial officers.

"This directive has far-reaching consequences on the operations of the Judiciary and the JSC. In this regard, we are compelled to make major adjustments to planned programs and activities," said Koome.

The judiciary had received an allocation of Sh 24.7 billion in the 2024/2025 budget against its request of Sh 44.9 billion which had a projected spending of Sh 38.6 billion on recurrent expenditure and Sh 6.2 billion on development.

JSC has also reallocated funds earmarked for upgrading security of the courts following the fatal shooting that led to the death of Makadara Law Courts magistrate, Monica Kivuti.

Chief Justice Martha Koome says that the JSC will meet with both the executive and parliament to seek concurrence on how to 'secure the judiciary budget' for efficient dispensation of justice.