The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has announced 45 vacancies in the office of judges of the superior courts, months after cancelling earlier recruitment due to budgetary constraints.
In the latest Gazette Notice dated June 4, 2025, Chief Justice and JSC Chairperson Martha Koome declared 15 vacancies in the Office of the Judge of the Court of Appeal.
Additionally, the commission announced 20 openings for judges of the High Court and 10 positions for judges of the Environment and Land Court.
"Pursuant to section 30 of the Judicial Service Commission Act, and section 3 of the First Schedule of the Judicial Service Act 2011, ,I, Martha Koome, Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya or and on behalf of the Judiciary of Kenya, declare vacancies in the office of the Judge of the Court of Appeal,'' reads the notice in part.
The move comes after the JSC cancelled previously declared vacancies on January 22, 2025, citing financial limitations.
In a notice published in Wednesday’s newspapers, JSC Secretary and Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfred Mokaya stated that the earlier suspension was necessitated by budget cuts.
“This is to notify the general public and applicants and/or shortlisted candidates that owing to financial restraints caused by budget cuts, the JSC has recalled the advertisement of the positions,” the notice read in part.
The previous job vacancies were advertised on February 9, 2024, and included 11 positions in the Court of Appeal and five in the High Court.
These postings followed a January 22, 2024, meeting involving all arms of government, during which the Executive and Legislature pledged support for increased funding to the Judiciary.
The January 2025 revocation came barely five months after the JSC, on July 3, 2024, suspended the recruitment of 11 Court of Appeal judges following an expenditure cut directive from the National Treasury.
Chief Justice Koome stated at the time that the decision was part of compliance with Treasury instructions requiring a 15 per cent reduction in the Judiciary's allocated budget.
“As a result, our expenditure is now limited strictly to essential needs,” she said.
"In this regard, we are compelled to make major adjustments to planned programs and activities. Regrettably, this has necessitated the decision by the JSC to suspend all pending recruitments, including that of the 11 Judges of the Court of Appeal, which was scheduled to commence today,” she added.
