President William Samoei Ruto has appointed fifteen judges to the Court of Appeal, formally sealing the decision through a Special Issue of the Kenya Gazette published on January 27, 2026.
The appointments were made under Gazette Notice No. 1000 and are grounded in Article 166 (1) (b) of the Constitution, which empowers the President to appoint judges to superior courts on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

“In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 166 (1) (b) of the Constitution, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint” the listed individuals “to be Judges of the Court of Appeal,” the notice reads.
The newly appointed judges are Hedwig Imbosa Ong’udi, Mathews Nduma Nderi, Linnet Mumo Ndolo, Enock Chacha Mwita, Lucy Mwihaki Njuguna, Samson Odhiambo Okongo, Rachel Chepkoech Ngetich, Joseph Kipchumba Kigen Katwa, Stephen Andersen Radido Okiyo, Brown Murungi Kairaria, Ahmed Issack Hassan, Paul Lilan, Johnson Okoth Okello, Munyao Sila, and Byram Ongaya.

The gazettement gives the appointments full legal effect, allowing the judges to take up positions at one of Kenya’s superior courts. The Court of Appeal handles appeals from the High Court and other courts and tribunals as provided for in law.

With the latest additions, the number of judges at the Court of Appeal has increased from 27 to 42, representing one of the largest expansions of the appellate bench in recent years.
The appointments follow a recruitment process conducted by the Judicial Service Commission, which on January 22 announced the nomination of the fifteen candidates. The JSC said the exercise was aimed at strengthening the court’s capacity and speeding up the resolution of pending appeals.

Chief Justice Martha Koome stated at the time that the Commission had concluded a rigorous and transparent recruitment process and would forward the names to the President in accordance with the Constitution.
According to the JSC, the vacancies were publicly advertised and the process included public participation at several stages, including shortlisting and interviews that were conducted openly and broadcast live.

The Commission said all candidates were vetted in line with the Constitution, the Judicial Service Act, and relevant regulations. In selecting the nominees, the JSC applied constitutional principles of merit, integrity, fairness, gender equity, inclusivity, and regional balance.
Candidates were evaluated on competence, experience, integrity, communication skills, sound judgment, and commitment to the rule of law and public service.

The expanded bench is expected to help ease the Court of Appeal’s case backlog and improve access to justice by ensuring faster determination of appeals.
With the publication of the Gazette notice, the appointment process is now complete, paving the way for the new judges to assume office under Kenya’s constitutional framework for judicial appointments.