Access Staff Email
The Kenya Judiciary offers varied challenging yet rewarding career options, competitive salaries and excellent benefits for those interested in a public service career in the administration of justice. This page provides information on the available opportunities, what to expect while working in the Judiciary, and advise on how to apply.
The Judiciary occupies a special place within our constitutional system: It is not only the anchor of justice but also the compass guiding our nation towards achieving the ideals enshrined in the Constitution.
Our mission is to dispense justice in a fair, timely, accountable and accessible manner, uphold the rule of law, advance indigenous jurisprudence, protect and promote the Constitution, guided by the values of Professionalism, Integrity, Diligence, Transparency, Accountability and Humility.
If you are equally driven by this mission and share in our core values, we invite you to explore this page for opportunities to work with us to advance access to justice and the rule of law.
Working opportunities in the Judiciary include legal, administrative and support roles in courts and administrative offices.
The Judiciary offers the following judicial careers:
· Judges of the Superior Courts; who hear and determine cases in courts (Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Employment & Labor Relations Court, and the Environment & Land Court)
· Magistrates; who have judicial authority to hear and determine cases in subordinate courts. (magistrates courts)
· Kadhis; who hear and determine family and social disputes involving people confessing the Muslim faith
· Chairpersons and Members of Tribunals; who hear and determine specialized commercial disputes using quasi-judicial processes
· Court Registrars (including Assistant & Deputy Registrars)- Who ensure court registries function effectively and efficiently.
These are lawyers who serve in the Superior Courts where they assist individual judges with legal research and analysis that inform the Judges when writing their decisions. Law Clerks serve in the Supreme Court while Legal Researchers serve in the Court of Appeal, High Court, Employment & Labor Relations Court, and the Environment & Land Court.
Court Assistants are the single largest cadre in the Judiciary, serving in our courts countrywide, where they assist litigants and Judicial Officers with various services within the court and in registries. The Court Assistant functions include; registration of cases, opening and retrieving files, drafting court orders, assessment of court fees and interpreting court proceedings.
The Judiciary has opportunities in technical functions that support the administration of justice. These include ICT, Human Resource, Procurement, Building Services, Finance, Accounts, Internal Audit, Information and Records Management, Security and Administration.
The Judiciary is committed to providing its employees with a satisfying and rewarding career in a working environment that is fair, consistent, caring and supportive of professional and individual growth. In line with this commitment, our employees can expect:
– Competitive salaries and allowances (as set by Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and approved by the Judicial service Commission guidelines for State Officers)
– Insurance – Group Personal Accident Cover and Medical cover with provision for annual health check ups
– Career management, learning, performance and mobility programmes that ensure that you are well equipped to advance personally and professionally
– Paid leave days in accordance with the Employment Act (30-day annual leave, maternity & paternity leave, convalescence leave, etc)
– Unpaid leave in certain circumstances
– Wellness programmes to help staff achieve balance in their work and personal lives
– Gratuity for contractual staff and retirement benefits for pensionable staff
–
Recruitment to professional roles in the Judiciary is undertaken by the Judicial Service Commission in exercise of the Commission’s mandate under Article 171 of the Constitution. The Chief Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Commission and with the approval of the National Assembly. Judges of the Superior Courts are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Commission. All other employees are appointed by the Commission.
Vacancies are posted on the Judiciary’s dedicated recruitment portal (https://jobs.judiciary.go.ke/) and in newspapers of national circulation as and when they arise.
Applications are made exclusively through the recruitment portal. Please open the portal to view vacant positions and to make your application.
Once you identify a vacancy of interest, please click on the button “Apply Now” and then proceed with instructions for the application process. Carefully review the requirements for each opportunity and customize your profile to highlight your suitability for the role.
Due to the high number of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The Judiciary does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. Any person who solicits for money for recruitment in the Judiciary should be reported to the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary or to the Police.
In the endeavor to support industrial training, the Judiciary offers internship opportunities to newly graduated students as well as pupilage and student attachment in order to gain practical experience in their professional fields.
Our internship programme offers students and recent graduates from diverse academic backgrounds the opportunity to gain direct practical experience in our head office and stations countrywide.
The internship programme is open to:
a. Unemployed Kenyan graduates from training institutions who have completed their degree courses and have not been exposed to work experience related to their area of study.
b. Graduates of degree and diploma programs for whom internship is a requirement for registration by their respective professional bodies.
Eligibility will be based on the following criteria:
i. The internship shall be undertaken only once after graduating from a course and
ii. The internship programme shall be for persons who have completed their training and graduated.
Due to a limited number of opportunities, selection of applicants for internship shall be guided by merit and discipline, with affirmative action to ensure opportunities for candidates with different genders, ethnicities, disability status and minority and marginalized groups.
The internship period shall be between three (3) and twelve (12) months; or the duration prescribed by the institution / professional body which regulates the profession in which the intern seeks registration.
Applications for internship are to be made to the HR Directorate through training@court.go.ke. The application should include the following documents:
a. A letter from the learning institution confirming the enrollment status of the applicant.
b. An application letter detailing areas of interest.
c. Workplace insurance cover for the duration of the attachment.
d. A copy of the applicant’s National ID.
Judicial attachment is offered to university students pursuing a bachelor of laws degree. Typically, these will be students in their second year of university, but this may vary from one university to the next.
The students are deployed for a maximum period of 8 weeks in a court station of their choice. During their attachment, students will research legal issues, draft memoranda, and witness the workings of the judicial system from the perspective of the Judiciary.
Judicial attachment is coordinated by Universities which collaborate with the Judiciary’s HR Directorate on placement of students. Applications are not made directly by students to the Judiciary.
The University’s Clinicals Programme Coordinator shall submit the list of students, indicating their preferred stations and period of placement to the HR Directorate through clinicals@court.go.ke.
Accessibility Tools
