By Ongaga Ongaga
President William Samoei Ruto has officially appointed fifteen new Judges to the Court of Appeal.
The move is expected to significantly bolster Kenya’s judicial capacity and accelerate the delivery of justice across the country.
The appointments were formalized through Gazette Notice No. 1000, published in a special issue of the Kenya Gazette dated January 27, 2026.
Acting under the authority granted by Article 166(1)(b) of the Constitution of Kenya, President Ruto named a distinguished cohort of legal professionals to the appellate bench.
The list includes respected jurists such as Hedwig Imbosa Ong’udi, Mathews Nduma Nderi, Linnet Mumo Ndolo, Enock Chacha Mwita, Lucy Muthoni Njuguna, Samson Odhiambo Okongo, Rachel Chepkoech Ng’etich and Joseph Kipchumba Kigen Katwa.
Others are Stephen Andersen Radido Okiyo, Brown Muringi Kariaria, Ahmed Issack Hassan, Paul Lilan, Munyao Sila, Johnson Okoth Okello, and Byran Ongaya.
This expansion of the Court of Appeal comes at a time when the judiciary faces mounting pressure to resolve a growing backlog of cases and respond to complex legal challenges in a rapidly evolving constitutional landscape.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place at State House in the coming days, with Chief Justice Martha Koome presiding.
The new judges will be tasked with interpreting the law at one of the highest levels of Kenya’s judicial system, and their rulings will shape jurisprudence for years to come.