Judicial Service Commission Kenya

The JSC today convened a Stakeholder Engagement Forum on the Recruitment and Selection of the Chief Kadhi of the Republic of Kenya.

The forum brought together representatives from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), the Muslims Professional League Africa, the Kenya Muslims National Advisory Council (KEMNAC), Jamia Mosque, the Association of Muslim Lawyers, and academia, among others.

Participants shared their expectations for the next Chief Kadhi, a constitutional office that sits at the intersection of faith, justice, and the rule of law.

Speaking at the forum, JSC Vice Chairperson Hon. Isaac Rutto, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to a credible process:
“The Commission is bound by the Constitution to conduct this recruitment with transparency, merit, and inclusivity — an obligation we take seriously. The appointment of a Chief Kadhi carries dimensions that go beyond a standard judicial recruitment. It touches questions of religious leadership, cultural trust, and community confidence.”

The stakeholder engagement underscores the Commission’s commitment to public participation as a cornerstone of transparent and inclusive judicial appointments.

The Judicial Service Commission has appointed a total of 125 Senior Legal Researchers and Legal Researchers.

These officers are central to strengthening the administration of justice in Kenya. Working directly under designated Judges and Judicial Officers, they will carry out complex legal research on precedent-setting authorities across jurisdictions within and beyond the Commonwealth, analyse pleadings and submissions, and draft bench memoranda and well-researched opinions on matters of law and fact.

Job Vacancies in the Judicial Service

The Judicial Service Commission has today commenced interviews for the position of Senior Legal Researcher, with interviews for Legal Researchers scheduled to commence 26th May 2026.

Legal Researchers are central to the administration of justice. Working directly under designated Judges and Judicial Officers, they carry out complex legal research on precedent-setting authorities across jurisdictions within and beyond the Commonwealth, analyse pleadings and submissions, and draft bench memoranda and well-researched opinions on matters of law and fact.

Upon conclusion of the recruitment exercise, the successful candidates will be deployed across Superior Courts and Magistrates Courts throughout the Republic of Kenya, providing critical research support to the newly recruited Judges of the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the Environment and Land Court.

The Judiciary will begin publishing individual performance data for Judges and Judicial Officers within a structured and transparent framework, one carefully designed to safeguard judicial independence and institutional integrity.
This decision is rooted in a principle that our theme implicitly affirms; judicial excellence is not self-certifying. It must be demonstrated, documented, and reported. Judicial authority in Kenya is derived from the people and exercised in their name. They are the ultimate consumers of justice and its primary financiers. Accountability to them is not optional, it is constitutional. Publishing performance data is how we show, in concrete terms, that we take that accountability seriously.

As Heads of Station, you are at the centre of this shift. How your stations perform in clearance rates, backlog management, case flow and public perception will increasingly be part of the institutional record. Begin now to build the culture and the systems that will make your stations stand out for the right reasons.

Hon. Everlyne Olwande - JSC Commissioner

The JSC today participated in the 13th Heads of Stations Forum, convened under the theme “Enhancing Judicial Excellence through Effective Court Station Management.”

At the forum, the Commission reflected on the strides made in advancing an effective, efficient, and transparent administration of justice — reaffirming its commitment to strengthening judicial service delivery for all Kenyans. Central to this was a call to uphold integrity and the rule of law as the twin pillars upon which public trust and confidence in the Judiciary must be built and sustained.

Registrar of Tribunals Hon. Anne Asugah, joined by Chairpersons and Members of the Tribunals, lauded the Commission for its milestone decision to elevate two Tribunal Chairpersons to the Court of Appeal and five Chairpersons and Members to the High Court and Courts of Equal Status.

“The increasing number of walk-ins, requests for assistance, registry support services, digital hub usage, and public inquiries became the driving force behind our commitment to continue bringing tribunal services closer to the people. We have learned that when tribunals become visible, it should be through the quality of service, responsiveness, and their experience when they walk through our doors,” said Hon. Anne Asugah - Registrar, Tribunals

The Judicial Service Commission led by Vice Chairperson Hon. Isaac Rutto today attended the launch of the Tribunals Shared Services Centre in Nyeri County, the third such centre to open its doors, following Nairobi and Kisumu.

By bringing tribunal services together under one roof, duplication is eliminated, resources pooled, and it ensures that Kenyans across the wider Mount Kenya region can access justice with greater speed and ease.

JSC Commissioner & Chairperson of Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) Hon. Jacqueline Ingutiah, highlighted the progress made: In just three quarters, over 10,296 matters were filed across the 27 Tribunals that have transitioned to the Judiciary — and 10,699 were successfully concluded. Growing public confidence. Strong, measurable performance.

The JSC remains committed to strengthening every pillar of the tribunal system, through appointments, policy direction, and the kind of deliberate institutional support that turns potential into performance.