The Judicial Service Commission has nominated Court of Appeal Judge, Lady Justice Martha Koome for the position of Chief Justice.
The announcement was made by the interim chair of JSC, Professor Olive Mugenda.
“After lengthy deliberations and careful consideration of various candidates, the JSC has unanimously recommended the appointed of Hon. Lady Justice Komme Martha Karabu Judge of the Court of Appeal as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya,” said Prof. Olive Mugenda in a press briefing at the Supreme Court.
The 61-year-old Koome enters historical books as Kenya’s first female CJ and takes over from David Maraga who retired on January 12, this year.
Her name will be forwarded to President Uhuru Kenyatta for approval.
JSC recruitment petition
The nomination comes hours after the Court of Appeal suspended ruing by the High Court that had barred the JSC from recruiting CJ candidates.
The petitioners, through lawyers Dunstan Omari, sought to stop the process on grounds that Prof Olive Mugenda was illegally presiding over the recruitment process when she has no powers to act as the JSC chair in the absence of the Chief Justice.
According to Omari, the interviews were supposed to be chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu who is the acting Chief Justice and not Prof Mugenda who is just a commissioner.
Hours before nominating Lady Justice Koome for the CJ post, Professor Makau Mutua and Katiba Institute had rushed to the High Court seeking orders to compel JSC to publish scores by each candidate interviewed for the CJ post.
Lady Justice Koome was among ten candidates that faced the JSC panel for the CJ recruitment exercise which ended last Friday.
Among the candidates who were interviewed included Justice Said Juma Chitembwe, Prof. Patricia Kameri-Mbote, Senior Counsel Philip Murgor, Senior Counsel Fredrick Ngatia, Justice Marete Njagi, Justice Matthews Nduma Nderi, Justice William Ouko, Prof. Moni Wekesa and Ms. Alice Yano.
Academic and Professional qualifications
Below is the background of Lady Justice Koome’s academic and professional qualifications
Master of Laws from the University of London (2010);
Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi (1986);
Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law (1987)
Admitted to the Roll of Advocates 1987.
Appointed Judge of Court of Appeal in 2012;
Previously served in Nyeri and Malindi.
She served as a High Court Judge (2003 – 2011) as:
– Head of Land and Environment Division of the High Court in Nairobi
– Resident Judge, High Court in Nakuru & Kitale
– High Court in Nairobi (Commercial Division & Family Division)
Managing Partner at Martha Koome & Company Advocates (1993 -2003)
Legal Associate at Mathenge & Muchemi Advocates (1988 – 1992)
