The International Association of Women Judges(IAWJ) has commended President Uhuru Kenyatta for his recognition of women judges in the recent appointments.
Out of the 34 judges who were appointed last week, 16 were women, making it an equivalent of 47 per cent of the total appointments.
According to IAWJ, the move is a step in the right direction and in line with the global conversation of providing equal leadership spaces for both men and women.
“The appointment and promotion of women judges will also go along way in ensuring women get equal access to justice,” they said.
They also applauded the President for setting pace in securing equal opportunities for all.
the organisation challenged other leaders to appoint more women in leadership position across the world.
Kenyatta appointed 34 judges and rejected the appointment of six judges from the 41 who had been nominated by the Judicial Service Commission.
However, his refusal to appoint the six nominees has since caused an uproar in the legal divide.
Katiba Institute filed an application at the High Court, challenging the appointment of the 34 Judges and omission of six nominees by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
According to the institute, the swearing-in of the 34 will violate the constitution as well as the rights of the remaining six.
In an application filed through their lawyer Dudley Ochiel, the Institute argued that Article 166( 1) commands the President to appoint judges of superior courts in accordance with the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
They termed the President’s move as ‘cherry-picking’ which undermines the functions of the JSC.
“The cherry-picking and selective appointment or swearing in of judges undermines the functions and powers of the Judicial Service Commission and the functioning of the Judiciary. It also is an improper extension of the role of the Executive and has created a constitutional crisis,” reads part of the application.
However, the 34 judges took oath as the president presided over the oath-taking ceremony at State House, Nairobi on Friday.
In his congratulatory message, Uhuru urged the new appointees to discharge their duties with diligence.
“I ask you to serve the people of Kenya with unfailing integrity and commitment, with utmost fidelity to the oath that you have subscribed to,” he said.
He declined to appoint Justices Weldon Korir, Aggrey Muchelule, George Odunga and Prof. Joel Ngugi, saying they did not meet the threshold.
The nomination of two other candidates; Makori Evans Kiago and Judith Omange Cheruiyot, was also declined.
Justices Odunga and Ngugi were among the five judges that nullified the Building Bridges Initiative(BBI) bill.