NAIROBI, Kenya – For thousands of Kenyan litigants trapped in the grinding gears of a clogged judiciary, justice has often felt less like a right and more like a mirage. On Friday, President William Ruto took a scalpel to that paralysis.
In a sweeping gazette notice dated April 24, 2026, the President appointed 37 new judges to the High Court and the Environment and Land Court (ELC)—the single largest infusion of judicial manpower in years, aimed squarely at dismantling a mounting case backlog that has left citizens waiting years for their day in court.
The appointments, issued under Article 166(1)(b) of the Constitution, followed a grueling, year-long recruitment drive by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The message from State House was unambiguous: the wheels of justice must turn faster.
24 New High Court Judges
Of the 37 appointees, 24 join the High Court bench, a significant reinforcement for a court that serves as the backbone of Kenya’s civil and criminal justice system.
The new High Court judges include:
Robinson Ondieki Kebabe
Joyce Mkambe Gandani
Joseph Maloba Were
Roseline Akinyi Oganyo
Paul Kipkosgei Rotich
Dickson Odhiambo Onyango
Alex Kimanzi Ithuku
Martha Wanzila Mutuku
Benard Wafula Murunga
Francis Nyungu Kyambia
Letizia Muthoni Wachira Rwiga
Kennedy Lenkamai Kandet
Richard Kipkemoio Koech
Emmanuel Omondi Bitta
David Wanjohi Mburu
Dominic Kipkemoio Rono
Winnie Narasha Molonko
Judith Chelangat Mutai
Joseph Kipkoech Biomdo
Anne Mary Auma Okutoyi
Abdi Mohamud Hassan
Nabil Mokaya Orina
Patricia Naeku Leparashao
Catherine Akaigwa Kassim
Each name emerged from a fiercely contested shortlist that saw 377 applicants vie for the original 20 advertised High Court slots—a testament to both the hunger for judicial office and the gravity of the responsibility.
ELC Gets 13 New Judges
Simultaneously, the Environment and Land Court—a specialized court grappling with a surge in land disputes, environmental degradation cases, and tenure conflicts—receives 13 new judges.
They are:
John Walter Wanyonyi
Jecinta Atieno Orwa
Peter Muneeno Musyimi
Cyprian Mugambi Ngyathari
Charity Chebii Oluoch
Elena Gathoni Nderitu
Gerhard Gitonga Muchege
Charles Nchore Ondieki
Dr. Robert Omondi Owino
Bellinda Akoth Akello
Lillian Tsuma Lewa
Ben Mark Ekhubi
Josphat Ngeria Kuyioni
The ELC recruitment attracted 243 applications, with 50 shortlisted for exhaustive public interviews before the JSC settled on its final slate.
A Cascade of Promotions
Notably, these appointments did not happen in a vacuum. On January 28, 2026, President Ruto had already appointed 15 judges to the Court of Appeal—Kenya’s second-highest court. Those promotions, however, created a domino effect.
Four High Court judges and two ELC judges were elevated to the Court of Appeal. Additionally, one ELC judge retired mid-process. The vacancies left behind are precisely what this latest batch fills.
The result is a dramatically strengthened judiciary.
Numbers That Matter
According to the JSC, upon formal appointment, the number of High Court judges will leap from 91 to 115—a 26% increase. The ELC bench will grow from 48 to 61 judges.
“Upon appointment, the number of judges in the High Court will increase from 91 to 115, while those in the Environment and Land Court will rise from 48 to 61,” the Commission stated.
For the ordinary Kenyan, those numbers translate into shorter queues, faster rulings, and a judiciary that no longer begs for patience but commands respect.