JSC nominates Martha Koome as Kenya’s next Chief Justice
She is set to be the first female Chief Justice in the country
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has unanimously nominated Justice Martha Koome Karambu for the position of Chief Justice and forwarded her name to President Uhuru Kenyatta for the appointment.
If appointed, Justice Koome will become the first female president of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kenya.
“Our duty was to select the best candidate and that’s what we have done,” Prof Olive Mugenda, who chaired the selection interviews, said on why the JSC will not release the scores for each candidate.
In a press briefing on Tuesday evening, JSC Vice Chairperson Prof. Olive Mugenda said the commission had unanimously selected Martha Koome and forwarded her name to President Uhuru Kenyatta for appointment to succeed retired Chief Justice David Maraga.
“After lengthy deliberations and careful consideration of the performance of various candidates the JSC has unanimously recommended the appointment of Hon Koome Martha Karabu as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya and has submitted her name to the President for appointment,” read the statement.
She is set to be the first female Chief Justice in the country.
Martha Koome, who has over 30 years in the legal profession, was among 10 candidates who were interviewed for the position of Chief Justice.
This was the second time Lady Justice Martha Koome was making a stab at the position of Chief Justice.
Following her selection by JSC, President Uhuru Kenyatta will submit her name for vetting by the Parliamentary Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.
The National Assembly will then consider the committee’s vetting report and once they approve it, President Kenyatta will officially appoint her Chief Justice.
Other candidates who interviewed for the position included Justice Said Juma Chitembwe, Prof. Patricia Mbote, Philip Murgor, Lawyer Fredrick Ngatia, Justice Marete Njagi, Justice Matthews Nduma Nderi, Justice William Ouko, Prof. Moni Wekesa and Ms. Alice Yano.
Meanwhile, the JSC interviews for the judge of Supreme Court will start on May 3, 2021.
