The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is an independent constitutional commission established under Article 171 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. The Commission is mandated to promote and facilitate the independence and accountability of the Judiciary while ensuring the efficient, effective, and transparent administration of justice. In carrying out this mandate, the Commission plays a central role in strengthening judicial governance, institutional leadership, policy oversight, and operational capacity across the Judiciary.
In line with its constitutional and statutory responsibilities, the Judicial Service Commission periodically undertakes recruitment exercises to fill key leadership and technical positions that are essential to the delivery of justice and the smooth functioning of judicial institutions. These recruitment processes are guided by principles of transparency, fairness, merit, inclusivity, and equal opportunity, as set out in the Constitution and relevant legislation.
The Commission now invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced candidates to fill several senior and specialized positions within the Judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission Secretariat. The advertised positions are permanent and pensionable, offering successful candidates the opportunity to serve in high-impact roles that contribute directly to the administration of justice, institutional integrity, and technological advancement within the Judiciary.
This recruitment exercise covers multiple leadership and technical roles, each with distinct responsibilities and institutional significance. All positions are based on defined job roles that require a high level of professional competence, ethical conduct, and commitment to public service. Interested candidates are expected to carefully review the job descriptions for each position to determine their suitability before submitting applications.
The available positions are as follows:
Chief Kadhi
Registrar, Judicial Service Commission
Assistant Director, ICT (Security) (JSG 3)
Assistant Director, ICT (Infrastructure) (JSG 3)
Each of these positions is outlined in detail below, with comprehensive descriptions of the duties, responsibilities, and scope of work associated with the role.
Position: Chief Kadhi
Number of Positions: One
Terms of Service: Permanent and Pensionable
The position of Chief Kadhi is a senior judicial office within the Kenyan Judiciary, with specific responsibility for the administration and supervision of Kadhi’s Courts. These courts have jurisdiction over matters of personal law relating to marriage, divorce, and inheritance in proceedings in which all parties profess the Muslim religion.
The Chief Kadhi is responsible for providing overall leadership and direction to Kadhi’s Courts across the country. This includes overseeing the performance of judicial functions within these courts and ensuring that justice is administered in accordance with the Constitution, Islamic law, and other applicable legal frameworks.
Key duties and responsibilities of the Chief Kadhi include presiding over cases within the jurisdiction of the Kadhi’s Courts and ensuring timely, fair, and impartial determination of matters brought before the courts. The office holder is expected to interpret and apply Islamic law accurately and consistently while upholding constitutional principles, including access to justice and the protection of fundamental rights.
The Chief Kadhi also exercises administrative oversight over all Kadhis and Kadhi’s Courts. This involves supervising judicial officers, providing guidance on legal and procedural matters, and ensuring adherence to established judicial standards and ethical requirements. The role requires close collaboration with the Judiciary’s leadership to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of court operations.
In addition, the Chief Kadhi plays a key role in policy development related to the administration of Kadhi’s Courts. This includes participating in judicial committees, contributing to the formulation of rules and procedures, and advising the Judiciary on matters affecting Islamic law and the Muslim community within the justice system.
The position further entails representing the Kadhi’s Courts in official forums, engaging with stakeholders, and supporting initiatives aimed at improving public confidence in the Judiciary. The Chief Kadhi is also responsible for mentoring and developing judicial officers within the Kadhi’s Courts to ensure continuity, professionalism, and high standards of service delivery.
Position: Registrar, Judicial Service Commission
Number of Positions: One
Terms of Service: Permanent and Pensionable
The Registrar of the Judicial Service Commission serves as the chief executive officer and secretary to the Commission. This is a senior leadership position responsible for the overall management, coordination, and administration of the Commission’s affairs in accordance with its constitutional mandate.
The Registrar is responsible for implementing the decisions and policies of the Judicial Service Commission and ensuring that the Commission’s functions are carried out efficiently and effectively. This includes providing strategic leadership to the Secretariat and overseeing day-to-day operations, administrative systems, and institutional processes.
Key responsibilities include coordinating the recruitment, appointment, discipline, and management of judicial officers and staff, as mandated by the Constitution and relevant legislation. The Registrar ensures that all Commission processes are conducted transparently, fairly, and in compliance with legal and policy requirements.
The role also involves acting as the primary accounting and administrative officer of the Commission, with responsibility for overseeing resource management, budget implementation, and institutional planning. The Registrar ensures that financial and human resources are utilized prudently and in support of the Commission’s strategic objectives.
The Registrar serves as the official custodian of Commission records and is responsible for ensuring proper documentation, record-keeping, and information management. This includes safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring compliance with applicable data protection and access-to-information requirements.
In addition, the Registrar represents the Commission in official engagements with government institutions, development partners, professional bodies, and other stakeholders. The position requires effective communication, coordination, and advisory support to the Commission, as well as the ability to manage complex institutional relationships.
The Registrar also plays a central role in supporting the Commission’s accountability and reporting obligations, including the preparation of statutory reports and the facilitation of oversight engagements. The role demands a high level of integrity, discretion, and commitment to public service values.
Position: Assistant Director, ICT (Security) (JSG 3)
Number of Positions: One
Terms of Service: Permanent and Pensionable
The Assistant Director, ICT (Security) is a senior technical role within the Judiciary’s information and communication technology function. The position is responsible for overseeing the security of ICT systems, infrastructure, and data across the Judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission.
The primary responsibility of this role is to develop, implement, and manage comprehensive ICT security strategies, policies, and frameworks that safeguard judicial information systems against internal and external threats. This includes ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and systems that support judicial operations.
Key duties include identifying and assessing ICT security risks and vulnerabilities, and implementing appropriate controls and mitigation measures. The Assistant Director is responsible for coordinating security audits, penetration testing, and compliance assessments to ensure adherence to applicable standards and best practices.
The role also involves managing incident response processes, including the detection, investigation, and resolution of security breaches or attempted intrusions. The office holder is expected to establish and maintain incident response plans and ensure that relevant personnel are trained and prepared to respond effectively to security incidents.
In addition, the Assistant Director, ICT (Security) provides technical guidance and oversight to ICT security teams and works closely with other departments to integrate security considerations into system design, procurement, and deployment. This includes advising on secure configurations, access controls, and user awareness initiatives.
The position further entails monitoring emerging ICT security trends, threats, and technologies, and recommending appropriate enhancements to the Judiciary’s security posture. The Assistant Director contributes to strategic planning and supports initiatives aimed at strengthening digital resilience and trust in judicial systems.
Position: Assistant Director, ICT (Infrastructure) (JSG 3)
Number of Positions: One
Terms of Service: Permanent and Pensionable
The Assistant Director, ICT (Infrastructure) is responsible for the planning, implementation, and management of the Judiciary’s ICT infrastructure. This includes networks, data centers, servers, end-user computing environments, and related systems that support judicial and administrative functions.
The role involves developing and executing infrastructure strategies that align with the Judiciary’s operational needs and long-term digital transformation objectives. The Assistant Director ensures that ICT infrastructure is reliable, scalable, and capable of supporting evolving service delivery requirements.
Key responsibilities include overseeing the installation, configuration, maintenance, and upgrading of ICT infrastructure components. This includes ensuring high availability, performance optimization, and effective capacity management across all supported systems.
The Assistant Director, ICT (Infrastructure) is also responsible for managing infrastructure-related risks, including system failures, obsolescence, and environmental factors. The role requires the establishment of disaster recovery and business continuity measures to ensure minimal disruption to judicial operations.
In addition, the position entails coordinating with vendors, service providers, and internal teams to ensure timely delivery of infrastructure projects and services. This includes overseeing contracts, service-level agreements, and technical support arrangements.
The role further involves providing technical leadership and mentorship to infrastructure teams, promoting best practices, and ensuring adherence to standards and policies. The Assistant Director contributes to budgeting, planning, and reporting processes related to ICT infrastructure investments.
Through effective management of ICT infrastructure, the Assistant Director supports the Judiciary’s mandate by enabling secure, efficient, and accessible justice services for all users.
Application Process
Interested candidates are expected to submit their applications in accordance with the instructions provided by the Judicial Service Commission. Applicants should ensure that they apply for the specific position for which they are best suited and that all required documentation is completed and submitted as part of the application process.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further stages of the recruitment process.
