1. Appointments

On 28^th January, 2026, President William Ruto presided over the swearing in of 15 newly appointed Judges of the Court of Appeal at State House in Nairobi. This milestone appointment, recommended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) increases the appellate bench from 27 to 42 judges, marking a historic expansion aimed at enhancing judicial capacity and significantly reduced backlog at the Court of Appeal.

• The List of Appointees

The newly sworn in judges bring a diverse mix of judicial and professional experience from both the Bench and the Bar:

1. Hon. Lady Justice Hedwig Imbosa Ong’udi
2. Hon. Mr. Justice Mathews Nduma Nderi
3. Hon. Lady Justice Linnet Mumo Ndolo
4. Hon. Mr. Justice Enock Chacha Mwita
5. Hon. Lady Justice Lucy Mwihaki Njuguna
6. Hon. Mr. Justice Samson Odhiambo Okongo
7. Hon. Lady Justice Rachel Chepkoech Netich
8. Hon. Mr. Justice Joseph Kipchumba Kigen Katwa
9. Hon. Mr. Justice Stephen Anderson Radido Okiyo
10. Hon. Mr. Justice Brown Murungi Kairaria
11. Hon. Mr. Justice Ahmed Isaack Hassan
12. Hon. Mr. Justice Paul Lilan
13. Hon. Mr. Justice Munyao Sila
14. Hon. Mr. Justice Johnson Okoth Okello
15. Hon. Mr. Justice Byram Ongaya

Chief Justice Martha Koome noted that this expansion increased the complement of Judges to 42, the highest in the Court’s history. This will significantly reduce case backlog and improve access to justice for all Kenyans.

President William Ruto reaffirmed the Executive’s commitment to the rule of law and challenged the Judiciary to expedite the resolution of cases to meet public expectations. (Insert photo of Judges at Statehouse)

LUNCHEON IN HONOUR OF THE NEW JUDGES (Photos) CJ, JSC Commissioners & President (CoA) _ Richard Otene)

The Court of Appeal hosted a luncheon in honour of the  new judges welcoming them to the Court.  This session served as a vital bridge between the rigorous recruitment process and onboarding of the newly appointed Judges.

Key highlights

• A warm welcome; the Chair of the Judicial Service Commission, Martha Koome, welcomed the 15 Judges to the Judiciary and presented them with onboarding forms and The Code of Conduct.

• The President of the Court, Mr. Justice Daniel Musinga, noted that with the current number of judges, the Court will operationalize Eldoret and establish a permanent station in Meru to enhance access to justice to the people in the said regions. These appointments will now support operations across the court’s seven stations in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nyeri, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu and Meru.

• The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Hon. Winfridah Mokaya, reiterated her commitment to provide technical and financial support to ensure seamless transition of the newly appointed Judges.

The Registrar of the Court, Hon. Moses Serem, briefed the Judges on virtual operations of the Court & transcription services. The Judges received insight into the Court’s digital frontier, management of the daily cause list, allocation of ICT