During the swearing-in of 15 new Court of Appeal judges in Nairobi on Wednesday, President William Ruto affirmed his administration's commitment to upholding the rule of law, vowing never to defy court orders. He emphasized the judiciary's independence is key to Kenya's democracy, despite his past concerns about judicial decisions impacting public policy.

• The Court of Appeal is currently handling 14,300 pending cases.
• The President announced plans to appoint 60 new High Court judges by March 2026 and recruit 168 new resident magistrates.
• The Judiciary's budget increased from Sh18.8 billion in 2023/24 to Sh26.9 billion in the current financial year.

President William Ruto oversaw the swearing-in of fifteen new appellate judges at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, January 28. This expansion aims to alleviate the severe shortage of judges in the Court of Appeal, which previously operated with significantly fewer judges than its statutory capacity.

• The appointments address an "acute shortage," with the court having 27 judges against a statutory capacity of 70.
• Notable appointees include Ahmed Issack Hassan (IPOA Chairman), Senior Counsel Katwa Kigen, and High Court judges Enock Chacha Mwita, Hedwig Ong’udi, and Mathews Nduma Nderi.
• The Judicial Service Commission (JSC), chaired by Chief Justice Martha Koome, emphasized merit, integrity, and inclusivity in the selection process, which involved 35 shortlisted candidates.

President William Ruto publicly criticized the Kenyan Judiciary, including Chief Justice Martha Koome, for rulings that have blocked key government projects and policies. He expressed concern that these decisions impede his administration’s mandate, which he believes was given by Kenyans in the 2022 General Elections.

• President Ruto plans to petition the courts to clarify the legal standing of policies derived from the party manifesto.
• A recent High Court ruling declared Ruto's 2025 appointments of 21 advisors as unconstitutional.
• The High Court also halted the implementation of the National Infrastructure Fund in December and nullified Executive Orders on public hiring in November.

President William Ruto announced his intention to seek a court interpretation on the legal standing of political party manifestos in government policy implementation. This move aims to clarify how far an electoral manifesto can guide policy, especially when its implementation faces legal challenges, often citing public participation issues.

• President William Ruto will petition the court to define the legal status of manifestos regarding policy implementation.
• The announcement was made at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, January 28, during the swearing-in of 15 new Court of Appeal judges.
• Deputy President Kithure Kindiki previously raised similar concerns in November 2025, noting that court decisions were impeding the government's development agenda and emphasizing the need for clarity on judicial independence intersecting with other government arms.