Former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Anne Atieno Amadi, has officially taken office as a Judge at the First Instance Division of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), stepping into a pivotal role in the regional legal system.
Her swearing-in took place on Saturday, marking a transition from her decade-long leadership in Kenya’s judiciary to the East African legal framework.
Amadi served as Chief Registrar of the Judiciary in Kenya from 2014 to 2024, where she managed the administration of the national court system and oversaw the ceremonial oath-taking of Presidents William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta.
Her leadership in the judiciary earned her recognition for strengthening court operations and ensuring smooth judicial processes across the country.
Her appointment aligns with the East African Community’s ongoing efforts to bolster regional institutions and enhance judicial oversight under the EAC Treaty. The move underscores a commitment by member states to strengthen the rule of law across the bloc.
The ceremony coincided with the 25th Ordinary Summit of East African Community Heads of State, held in Arusha, Tanzania. Leaders from the eight Partner States — Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia — gathered to implement key regional reforms and discuss the Community’s future direction.
During the summit, leaders introduced a new financing formula for the EAC. From July 1, 2026, half of the Community’s budget will be equally shared among all Partner States, while the remaining half will be based on assessed contributions.
The summit also agreed to waive 50 per cent of outstanding arrears owed by Partner States, with the balance payable within two years. Additionally, the quorum for EAC meetings was set at two-thirds of all Partner States.
Leadership at the Community also rotated, with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda taking over the EAC Chairmanship from President William Ruto of Kenya.
Rwanda was appointed as the new Rapporteur, while Ambassador Stephen Patrick Mbundi of Tanzania was confirmed as Secretary-General for the 2026–2031 term, bringing extensive experience in regional integration.
The summit further approved appointments to the EACJ, including Justice Stephen Simon Benjingwa of South Sudan and Abdullahi Warsame of Somalia, alongside Amadi. These appointments reflect the Community’s commitment to deepening judicial capacity and regional legal cooperation.
