The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has announced vacancies for four senior positions within the Judiciary, including the post of Chief Kadhi.
In a notice issued on Friday, January 16, 2026, the Commission said other available positions are Registrar of the Judicial Service Commission, Assistant Director of ICT (Security), and Assistant Director of ICT (Infrastructure), with one vacancy available for each role.
The vacancy for the Chief Kadhi arises following the death of Sheikh Athman Abdul-Halim Hussein in July 2025, leaving the senior judicial and religious office vacant. JSC in August 2025 appointed Sheikh Sukyan Omar Hassan as Acting Chief Kadhi to serve for a limited period pending the recruitment of a substantive office holder.
The Chief Kadhi is a senior judicial officer within Kenya’s legal system and heads the Kadhis’ Courts, which are established under Article 170 of the Constitution as part of the subordinate judiciary.
Role of Chief Kadhi
The courts have a specific constitutional mandate to determine personal status disputes among Muslims in accordance with Islamic law.
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Kadhi’s Courts handle matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, maintenance, and child custody, but only where all parties involved are Muslims and have voluntarily submitted to the court’s jurisdiction.
Their authority does not extend to criminal cases or civil disputes outside these defined areas, and their decisions remain subject to the Constitution and the Kadhis Courts Act.
As the head of the institution, the Chief Kadhi provides administrative oversight to the Kadhi’s Court stations across the country, ensuring consistency and fairness in the application of Sharia law within the national legal framework.
The office also plays an advisory role to the government on matters of Muslim personal law, including religious observances such as the determination of the beginning and end of Ramadhan.
The office of the Chief Kadhi is based in Mombasa, while the Deputy Chief Kadhi operates from Nairobi. Appeals from the Kadhis Courts are heard by the High Court, which may rely on expert assessors knowledgeable in Islamic law.
JSC Registrar position
Similarly, the advertised vacancy for the Judicial Service Commission Registrar is a critical administrative role within the Judiciary.
The Registrar is responsible for the day-to-day management of the JSC Secretariat and provides strategic leadership in coordinating the Commission’s technical and shared services.
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The position falls under the supervision of the Secretary to the Commission, who is also the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary. Winfridah Boyani Mokaya has held the role since March 2024, while Isaac Wamaasa currently serves as Acting JSC Registrar.
The Registrar’s duties include implementing policies, providing institutional oversight, and ensuring the smooth execution of the Commission’s constitutional mandate to safeguard judicial independence and accountability.
How to apply
JSC has invited qualified and interested Kenyans to submit their applications for the vacant positions through its JSC recruitment portal (https://jsc.go.ke/jobs-2/) noting that detailed job descriptions and requirements are available online.
“Only shortlisted and successful candidates will be contacted. Canvassing in any form will lead to automatic disqualification.
The Judicial Service Commission is an equal opportunity employer and selects candidates on merit through fair and open competition from the widest range of eligible candidates.”
According to the Commission, all applications must be submitted electronically and received no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 5, 2026.
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