Frida Boyani: Profile Of Newly-Appointed Chief Registrar Of Judiciary

Frida Boyani Mokaya is the new Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, having been appointed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Tuesday, March 19.

According to a notice issued by Chief Justice Martha Koome, who also happens to be the President of the Supreme Court, Mokaya was appointed after she passed all levels of interviews conducted on Monday, March 18.

"The Commission shortlisted seven (7) candidates who were interviewed on Monday 18th March 2024. Following deliberation and careful consideration of the candidates based on merit, performance and suitability for the position, the JSC has appointed Hon. Mokaya Frida Boyani as the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary for a five-year term," the appointment notice read in part.

Mokaya will serve for five years and is set to replace Anne Amadi whose term ended early in the year.

She has over 27 years of experience in the legal profession and wields glittering experience in the legal field that includes the following:

Frida Mokaya Work Profile

Before her appointment, she had been serving as the Registrar of the Judicial Service Commission since 2012.

She joined the Judiciary in 1997 and served as a District Magistrate (1997-1999), Resident Magistrate (1999-2003), Senior Resident Magistrate (2003-2008) and Principal Magistrate (2008-2011). 

Furthermore, between 2011-2012, she served as a Senior Principal Magistrate.

She is a member of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA), the International Association of Women Judges-Kenya, the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries (ICPSK) and the  East African Magistrates and Judges Association (EAMJA).

Academic Profile

Mokaya holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi (UoN), having graduated in 1993. She also is a candidate for a Master's Degree in Law from the same institution.

She also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. She is also a Certified Public Secretary (CPS-K).

Her Duties As Chief Registrar

As the Chief Registrar, Hon. Mokaya will serve as the Chief Administrator and Accounting Officer of the Judiciary.

She will also be the Secretary to the Judicial Service Commission as well as Secretary to the National Council on Administration of Justice.

"The functions include preparing estimates of expenditure in each financial year, for the following year and submitting them to the National Assembly.

Newly-appointed Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Frida Boyani Mokaya. /JSC

"The registrar is also the authorized officer for the Judiciary who is responsible for the efficient management of the day-to-day operations and administration of human resources in the judicial service; and in charge of support services in the Judiciary and in particular planning, development and organization of staff," reads the roles in the Judicial Service Act 2011.

Amadi served for 10 years since January 2014 before her retirement. The position was held by Judiciary’s Deputy Chief Registrar Paul Ndemo (one of the shortlisted candidates) as the Acting Chief Registrar.