Ruto To Appoint Six Judges Rejected By Uhuru

President William Ruto will appoint the remaining six judges of the Court of Appeal today.

The judges were rejected by immediate former President Uhuru Kenyatta after being nominated by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in 2019. They include judges Aggrey Muchelule, George Odunga, Weldon Korir and Joel Ngugi. 

In addition, Ruto will also preside over their swearing-in tomorrow, Wednesday, September 14.

"To further demonstrate my commitment to the independence of the judiciary, this afternoon, I will appoint the six judges already nominated for appointment to the court of appeal which was done three years ago.

Court of Appeal and various Divisions of the High Court at State House, Nairobi for their Swearing-in Ceremony presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday, June 4, 2021. /PSCU

"Tomorrow. I shall preside over their swearing-in so that they can get on with the business of serving the people of Kenya," he said during his address on Tuesday, September 13.

This is in line with his promise to support the independence of the Judiciary.

With regards to respecting the Judiciary, Ruto said that "My administration will respect judicial decisions while we cement the place of Kenya as a country anchored on democracy and the rule of law."

Uhuru had on Tuesday, July 19 approved the nomination of seven candidates to the court after they were recommended by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The seven include Justice Kimaru Luka Kiprotich, Gachoka Paul Mwaniki, Lady Justice Achode Lydia Awino, and Justice Ochieng’ Frederick Andago.

Others include Justice Mativo John Mutinga, Lady Justice Ngenye Grace Wangui and Lady Justice Aroni Abida Ali.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 166 of the Constitution of Kenya, I appoint the following to be Judges of the Court of Appeal," read a gazette notice in part at the time.

Chief Justice Martha Koome, who is also the Chairperson of JSC, had indicated in a statement a week ago that the seven judges' names were forwarded to the President for consideration.

"After lengthy deliberations and careful consideration of the performance of the various candidates and based on merit, gender, regional balance, affirmative action and public interest," CJ Koome stated.

Former Court of Appeal President Justice William Ouko, was among those who left the Appellate Court. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Kenya.

JSC advertised for the vacant positions of Judges of the Court of Appeal on March 14, 2022. It finalized interviews for the vacant positions on Wednesday, marking the tenth day.

Prof. (Dr.) Sifuna Nixon Wanyama, Siganga Beauttah Alukhava, Hon. Lady Justice Muchemi and Florence Nyaguthi were the last three candidates to be interviewed.

The new appointments had put to bed messy tussles between the Executive and Judiciary which began when Uhuru refused to appoint 6 judges recommended to him by JSC.