President William Ruto has revealed that Kenya’s High Court will see 20 more judges appointed through a recruitment process beginning on February 4 — as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s judiciary and tackle mounting case backlogs.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony for 15 new Court of Appeal judges at State House in Nairobi, Ruto said the move is designed to improve judicial efficiency and accelerate the resolution of court cases nationwide.
Once these new judges are selected, the High Court bench will total 60 judges — following previous expansions in December 2022 and May 2024.
Ruto noted that the judiciary has been under pressure due to heavy caseloads, with the Court of Appeal alone handling over 14,000 pending matters as of December 2025.
Highlighting broader efforts to support the justice system, the President also pointed out that 168 Resident Magistrates have been recruited to ease strain at lower court levels.
The initiative forms part of a wider government programme that has increased the judiciary’s budget and improved welfare for judges, with funding rising significantly in recent years.
Ruto urged the judiciary to match the strengthened capacity with faster case outcomes, reinforcing the rule of law and public confidence in Kenya’s legal system.
By Breaking Kenya News
