Applications for the position of chief justice attracted a few people from a large population of experienced lawyers and judges. It requires at least fifteen years of experience judicial practice.
At first, rumors had gone round that the attorney general Githu Muigai would apply for the position and be nominated, causing buzz with claims that tribalism would play part.
In the applications, only a few people were shortlisted. They include, Alnashir Visram, Smokin Wanjala, Msagah Mbogholi, David Maranga, Nzamba Kitonga and Roseline Nambuye among others. Out of these, Roseline Nambuye is one of the female applicants who stand tall in her profession and could be clinch the position.
The interviews are scheduled to start soon for the candidates. The Judicial Service Commission will then recommend to the president whom to appoint as a Chief Justice. That is in line with Article 166 of the Kenyan Constitution.
Roseline Nambuye, who hails from Bungoma county and aged 64 by now is a law graduate from the University of Nairobi. She was the only female student in 1974 to pursue law and scored a colorful Second Class Upper Division.
After her barrister studies at the Kenya School of Law in 1976, she was admitted to Marsabit as a District Officer III before promotion to District Officer II within two years. As s District Magistrate she has worked in several places like Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu, to mention a few. She has ascended to be a Court of Appeal’s judge, a position she has been holding from 2011.
Currently the judiciary has three vacant positions of Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and one judge to replace the Supreme Court Judge Philip Tunoi. She might just be our first female president of the Judiciary.