Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome has appointed new chairpersons and members to six tribunals under the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), with the appointments taking effect for terms ranging from three to five years.
The appointments, gazetted on September 25, cover the Standards Tribunal, Competition Tribunal, Energy and Petroleum Tribunal, Industrial Property Tribunal, Micro and Small Enterprises Tribunal and Retirement Benefits Appeals Tribunal.
John Joseph Wamwara was appointed Chairperson of the Standards Tribunal for three years, while Valentine Mwende Mulwa was appointed Chairperson of the Competition Tribunal for five years.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 172 of the Constitution and section 16A (2) of the Standards Act, the Judicial Service Commission appoints John Joseph Wamwara to be the Chairperson of the Standards Tribunal for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 2nd September, 2026,” read part of the gazette notice.
Martha Koome Makes New Appointments to Different Tribunals
At the same time, the Chief Justice appointed Doris Kinya Mwirigi as Chairperson of the Energy and Petroleum Tribunal for four years, while Pauline Mudeshi Muhanda was named Chairperson of the Industrial Property Tribunal for three years.
Koome also appointed Dorine Kalii David as a member of the Competition Tribunal for five years. Hillary Marrirmoi and Raymond Nyamweya were reappointed to the same tribunal for three years.
Meanwhile, Cynthia Opakas Andiabutswa, Yasmin Shariff Abdulkadir and Lawrence Otieno Atonga were appointed members of the Energy and Petroleum Tribunal for three years.
Kush Bowry and Catherine Waithira Karanja were also appointed members of the Industrial Property Tribunal for three years.
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The Chief Justice further appointed four members to the Micro and Small Enterprises Tribunal for five years, they include Duncan Mwiti Kinyua, Joan Jeptepkeny Korir, Faith Kanana Kaithia and Steffi Annette Akinyi Okallo.
Additionally, Linus Oyimba Makhulo and Susy Ekesa Rauto were appointed members of the Retirement Benefits Appeals Tribunal for three years.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 172 of the Constitution and section 47 (2) of the Retirement Benefits Act, the Judicial Service Commission appoints Linus Oyimba Makhulo and Susy Ekesa Rauto to be Members of the Retirement Benefits Appeals Tribunal, for a period of three (3) years,” read the gazette notice.
Also Read: Martha Koome Establishes 15 Small Claims Courts Across Kenya
About JSC Tribunals
The tribunals hear and determine appeals, complaints and other disputes requiring specialized legal and technical knowledge. Following their transition to the Judiciary, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) appoints their chairpersons and members.
The Office of the Registrar of Tribunals oversees the administration of the tribunals, including their registries, infrastructure and shared services. More than 26 specialized tribunals have transitioned to the administrative framework of the Judiciary.
The tribunals cover a wide range of sectors, including competition, energy and petroleum, standards, industrial property, retirement benefits, micro and small enterprises, sports, political parties, taxation and capital markets.
These include the Competition Tribunal, which handles appeals from decisions of the Competition Authority of Kenya; the Energy and Petroleum Tribunal, which deals with disputes in the energy sector; and the Standards Tribunal, which handles appeals from standards-related decisions.
Other bodies include the Industrial Property Tribunal, Micro and Small Enterprises Tribunal, Retirement Benefits Appeals Tribunal, Tax Appeals Tribunal, Sports Disputes Tribunal and Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.
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