President William Ruto during the swearing-in of 15 new Court of Appeal judges at State House, Nairobi/PCS
President William Ruto has announced that 20 new judges will be appointed to the High Court through a recruitment process starting next week, February 4, bringing the total number of judges on the bench to 60.
Ruto spoke during the swearing-in of 15 new Court of Appeal judges at State House, Nairobi, saying the move is aimed at strengthening judicial capacity and speeding up the resolution of cases across the country.
“In the High Court, a total of 60 new judges will have been appointed by March this year, comprising 20 in December 2022; 20 in May 2024, and an additional 20 through the recruitment process scheduled to begin next week on February 4,” Ruto said.
The expansion comes as the judiciary faces mounting pressure from increasing caseloads.
According to figures presented by the president, the Court of Appeal was managing 14,334 pending matters as of December 2025, with an overall case clearance rate of 68 per cent.
Ruto noted that existing judicial capacity has not kept pace with the volume of cases, particularly in high-demand stations.
“This administration has consistently committed resources to strengthening the Judiciary’s human capital, ensuring it has the capacity, skills, and institutional depth required to effectively deliver on its constitutional mandate,” he said.
Alongside the High Court expansion, the Judicial Service Commission has recruited 168 Resident Magistrates, Ruto said, aiming to strengthen service delivery at the grassroots level and ease pressure across the justice system.
Legal analysts say the planned appointments could have a significant impact on case resolution timelines, particularly for civil, criminal, and constitutional matters.
Observers note that increasing the number of judges at both the High Court and magistrate levels is likely to reduce delays that have long frustrated litigants and businesses.
Ruto stressed that the judiciary’s strengthened capacity should translate into tangible improvements for the public.
“Even as we provide this support, we issue a clear and respectful challenge to the Judiciary. With expanded capacity, improved resourcing, and strengthened welfare, Kenyans rightly expect faster case resolution, consistent and coherent jurisprudence, and decisions that reflect both constitutional fidelity and a genuine appreciation of the lived realities of our people,” he said.
The president also reiterated the government’s commitment to the independence of the judiciary, noting that courts are constitutionally mandated to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens’ rights.
“Courts are constitutionally mandated to interpret and apply the law, to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution, and to protect the rights and freedoms of every Kenyan,” Ruto said.
While acknowledging occasional disagreements with court rulings, Ruto said the government has respected judicial decisions and has relied on lawful avenues, including appeals, rather than defiance.
“Where we have been dissatisfied, we have chosen the lawful path of appeal, where available, rather than defiance or disregard of court orders,” he said.
The High Court expansion is part of a wider government programme that has also increased the judiciary’s budget and improved welfare for judges.
Funding rose from Sh18.8 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year to Sh26.9 billion in the current financial year.
The Judges’ Retirement Benefits Bill, now in the final stages of parliamentary consideration, is expected to provide pensions, gratuities, medical cover, and other protections for judges once enacted.
The recruitment of the additional High Court judges, alongside magistrates, represents one of the largest reinforcements of Kenya’s judiciary in recent history.
Legal observers say the move is likely to boost public confidence in the justice system, improve case management, and reduce the backlog that has long affected access to timely justice.
Ruto concluded by congratulating the newly sworn-in Court of Appeal judges and reiterating the government’s support for judicial independence.
“May your tenure strengthen justice, deepen public confidence in our courts, and reinforce the constitutional foundations of our Republic,” he said.