Kenya’s Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Tuesday unanimously nominated Court of Appeal judge Justice Martha Koome Karambu for the position of Chief Justice.
If appointed, she will become the first female president of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kenya.
The JSC said she emerged the best among the 10 candidates who sought to replace 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,” said Olive Mugenda, who also doubles up as the Vice-Chair of the commission.
“Our duty was to select the best candidate and that’s what we have done,” Prof Olive Mugenda said during a televised media briefing.
Koome has an aggregate of 33 years of experience in the legal profession.
Justice Koome holds a Bachelor and Master of Laws degrees from the University of Nairobi. She was admitted as an advocate of the High Court in 1987 after which she practised as a litigator in a firm.
In 2020, she was honoured as a UN Kenya Person of the Year runner-up for her advocacy to improve the legal rights of women and children in the justice system.
Other candidates who were interviewed for the position are Chitembwe Said Juma, Justice M’inoti Kathurima, Justice Nduma Nderi, Lumumba Nyaberi, Justice William Ouko, Justice Joseph Sergon, Alice Yano, Philip Murgor.
