Koome swears in Olwande, Supreme Court Judge Ndung'u as JSC members

Supreme Court judge Njoki Ndung'u taking oath/JSC COURTESY

Chief Justice Martha Koome has presided over the swearing-in of Chief Magistrate Everlyne Olwande and Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u as members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The move marks a fresh phase in the leadership of the constitutional body tasked with overseeing Kenya’s judiciary.

The ceremony was held at the Supreme Court building, where the two commissioners took the oath of office administered by the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Winfridah Mokaya.

Both Olwande and Justice Ndung’u will serve five-year terms on the commission.

Olwande was re-elected for a second term by members of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA), extending her representation of magistrates at the commission.

Her re-election signals continued confidence by judicial officers in her leadership and advocacy within the JSC, particularly on issues affecting magistrates and the lower courts.

Chief Magistrate Everlyne Olwande taking oath/JSC COURTESY

In remarks posted by the JSC following the ceremony, the commission noted that the swearing-in was conducted in line with constitutional requirements and underscored the critical role played by commissioners in safeguarding judicial independence, accountability and efficiency.

"Everlyne Olwande was re-elected for a second term by members of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association, while Hon. Lady Justice Njoki Ndung'u was elected by the Judges of the Supreme Court of Kenya as their representative to the Commission," JSC posted.

Justice Ndungu's appointment brings to the JSC a judge with extensive experience in constitutional law, human rights, governance and legislative reform.

Justice Ndung’u is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Human Rights and Civil Liberties, as well as a diploma in Women’s Rights.

Before joining the Bench, she served in several local, regional, and international institutions, including as State Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General, Programme Officer at the Institute for Education in Democracy, National Protection Officer at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and Political Analyst in Conflict Management at the African Union.

She is also a former Member of Parliament and previously served as a Member of the Pan-African Parliament.

During her time in the National Assembly, she sat on key committees, including Defence and Foreign Affairs, Administration of Justice and Legal Affairs, and the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitution.

Justice Ndung’u is widely credited as the architect of the Sexual Offences Act, 2006, and played a leading role in legislative amendments that introduced paid maternity and paternity leave under the Employment Act, as well as affirmative action measures for women in political participation under the Political Parties Act.

She also served on the Committee of Experts that drafted Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.

Her contributions have earned her several national and international honours, including the United Nations Person of the Year Award in Kenya and the International Commission of Jurists’ Jurist of the Year Award in 2006.

She has also received Presidential commendations, including the Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) and later the Chief of the Burning Spear (CBS).

At the Supreme Court, Justice Ndung’u heads the governance and regulatory affairs portfolio, which focuses on strengthening institutional governance, reviewing court rules and enhancing consistency in judicial administration.

The swearing-in of Magistrate Olwande and Justice Ndung’u comes at a time when the JSC is overseeing key judicial recruitment processes.