Justice William Ouko Nominated to the Position of Supreme Court Judge

Justice William Ouko has been nominated as a judge of the Supreme Court.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) unanimously agreed on his nomination and forwarded his name to President Kenyatta for appointment.

“We congratulate Justice Willaim Ouko, and we wish him well. To the other candidates, the Commission has had the privilege to know you better and appreciate your hard work in the capacities in which you are serving the nation,” JSC Interim Chairperson Prof. Olive Mugenda said during a media briefing on Wednesday.

If appointed, Justice Ouko will replace judge Jackton Ojwang, who retired in February 2020.

Ouko, a judge of the Appeals Court, was among the nine candidates shortlisted by JSC for the position.

Others were Justice Martha Koome, Kathurima M'Inoti, Joseph Sergon, Said Juma Chitembwe, Pro.  Lumumba Nyaberi, Alice Yano, Njagi Marete, and Nduma Nderi.

Kathurima withdrew from the race while Koome was not interviewed after she was nominated to the position of Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya.

Justice Ouko, who was also in the Chief Justice race, was appointed as a Court of Appeal judge in 2012.

In 2018, he was overwhelmingly voted as the President of the Court of Appeal by fellow judges.

The 58-year-old previously served in the High Court between 2004 and 2012. He boasts of 34 years of experience in the legal profession.

He holds a Master of Arts degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) from the University of Nairobi, and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Kenya School of Law.