Ruto Appoints Katwa Kigen, Chacha Mwita, Issack Hassan Among 15 Court of Appeal Judges
President William Ruto has formally appointed 15 judges to the Court of Appeal, following the submission of their names by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) after the conclusion of a competitive and publicly scrutinised recruitment process.
The appointments were gazetted on Tuesday, officially elevating the judges to Kenya’s second-highest court and marking a significant expansion of the appellate bench. The move comes at a time when the Judiciary is under pressure to accelerate justice delivery and address a long-standing backlog of cases across the court system.
Among those appointed are Katwa Kigen, Chacha Mwita, and former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Issack Hassan, whose inclusion has drawn public attention due to his prominent role in past electoral processes.
The appointments follow rigorous public interviews and vetting conducted by the JSC, which assessed candidates on integrity, professional competence, judicial temperament, and experience.
In a statement accompanying the gazette notice, the presidency said the appointments were made in line with the Constitution and on the recommendation of the JSC.
“The judges appointed to the Court of Appeal have met the constitutional and statutory requirements and were competitively vetted through a transparent process,” the notice read.
The elevation of the 15 judges increases the number of Court of Appeal judges from 27 to 42, significantly boosting the court’s capacity to hear and determine appeals. The Court of Appeal plays a critical role in Kenya’s justice system, handling appeals from the High Court and select tribunals in both civil and criminal matters.
Judicial officials say the expanded bench is expected to ease pressure on the court, which has for years grappled with heavy caseloads and delays in resolving appeals.
“Strengthening the Court of Appeal is a critical step in enhancing access to justice and ensuring timely resolution of disputes,” a Judiciary official familiar with the process said.
The appointments come against the backdrop of ongoing reforms within the Judiciary aimed at improving efficiency and reducing case backlogs. Recent data suggests gradual progress, although challenges remain.
According to the State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice (SOJAR) Report for the 2023/2024 financial year, the total number of pending cases across all courts dropped from 272,678 in June 2023 to 244,267 by June 2024. While the reduction has been described as encouraging, the backlog remains substantial.
The Court of Appeal recorded 5,822 pending cases as of June 2024, down from 6,942 cases the previous year. Judiciary officials attribute the decline to administrative reforms, enhanced case management systems, and increased judicial staffing.
“The reduction in pending cases reflects deliberate efforts by the Judiciary to clear backlogs, but sustained support and staffing remain essential,” the SOJAR report notes.
Despite the progress, Magistrates’ Courts continue to hold the largest share of pending cases, underscoring systemic challenges across the justice system.
The judges will sit in different stations across the country, reviewing decisions from the High Court and ensuring consistency and development of jurisprudence. Their work is also expected to ease pressure on litigants, many of whom have waited years for appellate decisions
The appointments underscore President Ruto’s broader commitment to judicial reform, even as debates continue over funding, independence of the Judiciary, and the pace of justice delivery.
Ruto Appoints Katwa Kigen, Chacha Mwita, Issack Hassan Among 15 Court of Appeal Judges
