This archive report was first published on 20 December 2019.
As of January 13 next year, judges in Kisumu and Mombasa will relocate to Nairobi due to a shortage of judges in the Court of Appeal.
According to a statement by Court of Appeal President Justice William Ouko, the decision was made in consultation with the Chief Justice, citing the retirement of several judges, the appointment of others to higher government offices, and the sudden death of Justice James Otieno Odek.
The number of appellate judges has gradually shrunk from 27 to 15 in a short span of time, with only 12 judges in the Court of Appeal who sit full-time, out of which three are serving in Mombasa and three, until the passing on of Justice Odek, were serving in Kisumu.
The Judicial Service Commission has termed the delay by the executive to formally appoint 41 judges as a threat to its constitutional role to safeguard and promote the independence of the Judiciary.
President Kenyatta declined to formally appoint the judges citing integrity issues on some of the nominees.
As a result, the sittings of the Court outside Nairobi are suspended with effect from January 13, 2020, with the affected stations to be run from Nairobi through circuit sessions to be conducted once every month to each station.
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