CJ Koome makes fresh appointments in Tribunals and Justice committees

Chief Justice Martha Koome has made several new appointments and reappointments across various arms of the judiciary and legal sector, in a move aimed at strengthening the administration of justice in Kenya.

In various gazette notices in April, the Judicial Service Commission reappointed Bett Jackson Kiprotich and Katina Robert Mnangat to serve as Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Micro and Small Enterprises Tribunal.

Their new term will run for five years starting from January 16, 2025.

In another appointment, Linda Riziki Emukule and Raphael Wambua Kigamwa were nominated by the Law Society of Kenya to serve as members of the Council of the National Council for Law Reporting.

Their term will run for three years starting March 13, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice also announced key changes to the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) committees.

Emily Mubichi and Julliet Owala have been appointed as Joint Secretaries of the NCAJ Committee on Traffic Reforms.

They take over the role for the remaining period of the committee’s term, following the revocation of Susan Jean Ouko’s appointment.

These changes are part of broader efforts by the NCAJ to reform Kenya’s justice and legal systems through various committees that focus on specific areas such as anti-corruption, traffic management, and technology.

Koome also extended the term of the NCAJ Committee on Anti-Corruption by another three years.

The committee’s scope has been expanded to include overseeing the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategic Guiding Framework for Kenya’s Justice Sector, 2025.

Several new members were appointed to the committee for the remainder of its term. Abdi Mohamud will serve as Chairperson, representing the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

Lady Justice Lucy Njuguna, Mercy Gateru from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and Joint Secretaries Emily Mubichi and Julliet Owala will also serve on the committee.

The appointment of Twalib Mbarak, Justice Prof. Sifuna Nixon, Susan Ouko, and Grace Murungi was revoked.

In a related move, CJ Koome named Margaret Wanyoike as the new Secretary of the NCAJ Working Committee on Information, Communication, and Technology.

She replaces Jackie Mulwa and Irene Omari, whose appointments were revoked through an earlier gazette notice.