By Sarah Omondi
Acting Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Paul Ndemo is among the seven candidates shortlisted by the Judicial Service Commission to fill the position that became vacant following the exit of Anne Amadi after her 10-year tenure.
Ndemo previously served as the Deputy Chief Registrar for five years.
Also in the list is 38-year-old Rose Wachuka Macharia who was in 2021 appointed Chief of Staff to Chief Justice Martha Koome and Dr Jack Busalile Mwimali who was among four law professors whose expertise guided the High Court in its landmark ruling on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) referendum.
Rose was admitted to the bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 2011 and has served in senior government positions for the last 10 years. She holds a Masters degree in Public Policy from the University of Oxford and Bachelor of Laws degree from Moi University.
Others are Kennedy Kandet, Caroline Kendagor and Anne Wambeti Ireri (Advocate of the High Court) and Frida Mokaya, the Head of the Judicial Service Commission’s secretariat.
The seven whose interviews will be conducted on March 18 starting 8am to 4:30pm were picked from a team of 43 people who had expressed interest in the position of the Secretary to the Commission advertised on October 23, 2023 vide Ref V/No. 30/2023.
The Commission has invited members of the public to provide crucial information (in writing) with respect to the shortlisted candidates before the interview date.
“…The Commission may interview any member of the public who has submitted information on any of the candidates and such information shall be kept confidential,” JSC Chairperson Justice Martha Koome said.
Amadi had been an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya since 1989 and previously served as a Magistrate for six years (1991-1997) besides private law practice in Mombasa for seven years.
She was the only registrar who swore in two Presidents, former Head of State Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017 and current President William Ruto in 2022.
