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The shortlist brings together four judges from the superior courts and one advocate. Those set to face the panel are Court of Appeal judges Mohammed Warsame, Katwa Kigen and Francis Tuiyott, High Court judge Joseph Sergon, and advocate Anne Waceke Makori, a former chair of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
The union says the proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement is meant to correct long-standing gaps in pay structures and bring uniformity across commissions. It wants comprehensive discussions covering salaries, allowances, welfare provisions, union rights, and general working conditions.
In its inaugural statement dated April 14, the newly elected LSK Council said it would act as the “statutory guardian of the rule of law,” cautioning that institutions entrusted with justice were under strain.
In a statement issued on Friday, JSC Chairperson Martha Koome acknowledged the findings of the report, which profiled corruption across the public sector, including within the Judiciary, and outlined measures already in place to address integrity concerns.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, said the nominations followed the conclusion of a rigorous and transparent recruitment process that attracted hundreds of applicants.
The candidates who made the shortlist are Anne Waceke Kiratu Makori, Justice Joseph Kipchumba Kigen Katwa, Justice Joseph Kiplagat Sergon, Justice Francis Kipruto Tuiyott and Justice Abdulahi Mohammed Warsame. Those who had initially applied also included Lilian Wanjiku Wachira, who did not make it to the final list.
According to the JSC, this exercise is part of efforts to expand judicial resources and ensure faster resolution of cases, particularly those relating to land ownership, use, and environmental management, which continue to be among the most contested issues in Kenya.
In a Gazette notice dated March 6, CJ Koome named Gerald Mutiso to preside over matters relating to corruption and economic crimes under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
The recruitment process now moves to the next phase, with the Commission announcing plans to conduct a stakeholder engagement forum ahead of shortlisting.
Justice Katwa Kigen is among the newly elevated judges and has been assigned to the Nyeri station. Ahmed Isaack Hassan, who previously served as chair of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, has been posted to Nakuru under the same placement schedule.
The list of shortlisted candidates includes former Nyeri Woman Representative Priscilla Nyokabi, Supreme Court Registrar Letizia Wachira, as well as experienced advocates, magistrates and legal scholars.
The Judicial Service Commission oversees the recruitment, discipline, and supervision of judicial officers, making impartiality among its members crucial to maintaining trust in the justice system.