The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has announced an immediate suspension of the recruitment of judges for the Court of Appeal, a move prompted by recent directives from the National Treasury. The directive, outlined in Treasury Circular No. 6/2024 dated June 28, 2024, mandates a significant curtailing of expenditure, limiting it to only 15% of the appropriated budget for critical and essential services.
The JSC’s press release by Chief Justice Martha Koome, who is also the Chair of the JSC detailed the extensive implications of this directive, emphasizing the strain it places on the Judiciary’s operations. As a result, the JSC has halted all ongoing recruitment processes, including the planned hiring of 11 new judges for the Court of Appeal. This recruitment drive, which was set to commence today, was part of a broader initiative to alleviate the backlog of cases and enhance access to justice.
Currently, the Court of Appeal operates with 29 judges across six stations nationwide, forming nine benches at any given time. Despite this, the court faces an overwhelming caseload, with 13,331 pending cases as of May 2024. To address this, the JSC had previously amended the Judicature Act to increase the maximum number of Court of Appeal judges from 30 to 70. The February 2024 advertisement for 11 vacancies was a crucial step towards mitigating these delays.
Additionally, the press release touched on the need for increased security measures following the tragic death of Hon. Monica Kivuti at the Makadara Law Courts. This incident has highlighted the urgency for budget reallocations to improve court security, ensuring a safe environment for judiciary staff and the public.
In closing, the JSC reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the rule of law and the effective functioning of democracy. The commission plans to engage with Parliament and the Executive to advocate for enhanced budgetary allocations to support the Judiciary’s critical role in upholding justice.
