This archive report was first published on 22 July 2019.
On July 22, 2019, the Judicial Service Commission announced the names of persons recommended for appointment of Court of Appeal judges, sparking a protest from the Law Society of Kenya representative, Macharia Njeru.
Chief Justice David Maraga had announced the list, which included 11 names, all of whom were judges of the High Court. However, Mr. Njeru expressed dissent, stating that he had strongly presented a case for at least two lawyers to be included in the list, but the JSC only recommended one person, Dr. Imana Laibuta, for appointment.
Among those who made it from a list of 35 persons who were interviewed are longest-serving Justice Msagha Mbogholi, who is currently the presiding judge of the civil division of the High Court in Nairobi, and Justice Jessie Lesiit, who is currently the presiding judge of the Criminal Division of the High Court.
Justice Lesiit is currently handling high-profile cases, including the trial of Migori governor Okoth Obado, his personal assistant Michael Oyamo, and Caspal Obiero, a clerk in Migori County, who have denied murdering student Sharon Otieno.
Other judges who were recommended for appointment were Justices Francis Tuiyott, Pauline Nyamweya, Weldon Korir, Aggrey Muchelule, Mumbi Ngugi, and Justices George Odunga, who made a name issuing orders against the government while serving at the Judicial Review Division of the High Court in Nairobi.
