A reorganisation of the Court of Appeal has ushered in new judicial leadership at several stations across the country, with recently appointed judges now formally taking up their posts.
The redistribution follows the conclusion of a national selection process and sets the stage for an expanded appellate bench operating in key regions.
The latest deployments were communicated through a notice from the Judicial Service Commission, detailing where members of the strengthened Court of Appeal will serve.
The exercise comes after the appointment of 15 additional judges earlier this year, a move designed to grow the appellate bench from 27 to 42 judges after a competitive recruitment process that drew wide interest.
Justice Katwa Kigen is among the newly elevated judges and has been assigned to the Nyeri station. His posting forms part of the broader effort to spread appellate services more evenly across the country.
Justice Enock Chacha Mwita has reported to the Kisumu station. Prior to his promotion, he headed the Constitutional and Human Rights Division of the High Court, where he handled weighty cases involving constitutional interpretation and enforcement of rights.
Ahmed Isaack Hassan, who previously served as chair of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, has been posted to Nakuru under the same placement schedule.
In Nairobi, Justice Daniel Musinga continues to preside as President of the Court of Appeal and sits at Nairobi Post, Court 1. He is joined by Judges Kathurima M’inoti, Kibaya Laibuta and Justice Paul Lilan.
Court 2 in Nairobi comprises Justices Lucy Njuguna, Wanjiru Karanja, Omondi Hellen and Aggrey Muchelule. Court 3 includes Abdulahi Warsame and Luka Kimaru among those assigned.
Court 4 lists Justices Milton Makhandia and Lessit Jessie. In Court 5, Patrick Kiage and Jamila Mohammed are part of the bench, while Court 6 is composed of Professor Justice Joel Ngugi and Justice Chepkoech Ngetich.
Other regions have also been aligned under the new structure. In Meru, Gatembu Kairu and Hedwig Ong’undi form part of the appellate team. Mombasa includes Francis Tuiyott and Grace Ngenye in its roster, while Kisumu’s wider bench also features Justices Pauline Nyamweya and Bryam Ongaya.
Nakuru has been bolstered with Judge John Mativo, and Eldoret’s station lists Mwaniki Gachoka, Korir Weldon and Linnet Ndolo among its judges.
The Judicial Service Commission recently finalised interviews, background checks and merit-based evaluations for several judicial positions, paving the way for the current deployments. With the new assignments now operational, the Judiciary aims to improve the handling of appeals and ensure that the expanded bench serves different regions effectively.
