Ruto Appoints 15 New Court of Appeal Judges, Expanding Bench to 42

President William Ruto has appointed 15 new judges to the Court of Appeal, increasing the size of the appellate bench to 42.

The appointments were confirmed through a gazette notice issued on Tuesday and follow recommendations by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) after a public vetting process. The move represents one of the largest single expansions of the Court of Appeal in recent years.

Those appointed include Hedwig Imbosa Ong’udi, Mathews Nduma Nderi, Linnet Mumo Ndolo, Enock Chacha Mwita, Lucy Mwihaki Njuguna, Samson Odhiambo Okongo and Rachel Chepkoech Ngetich. Others are Joseph Kipchumba Kigen Katwa, Stephen Andersen Radido Okiyo, Brown Murungi Kairaria, former Independent Policing Oversight Authority chair Ahmed Issack Hassan, Paul Lilan, Munyao Sila, Johnson Okoth Okello and Justice Byram Ongaya.

The appointments increase the number of judges in the Court of Appeal from 27 to 42. The court handles appeals from the High Court and specialised tribunals and has faced persistent delays linked to a growing caseload and limited judicial capacity.

According to the State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice (SOJAR) Report for the 2023/24 financial year, the total number of pending cases across all courts declined from 272,678 in June 2023 to 244,267 by June 2024. During the same period, the Court of Appeal reduced its backlog from 6,942 cases to 5,822.

The JSC said the vetting process focused on integrity, competence and professional experience. Among the new appointees are Hassan, who previously led oversight of police accountability, and Katwa, a senior advocate who has served as a legal adviser to the President.

The expansion comes as the judiciary faces pressure to improve the speed of case resolution, particularly in commercial and constitutional matters. The additional judges are expected to help reduce delays.