The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera is seeking answers from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) regarding its decision to cancel 171 job openings that were advertised in November 2024.
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The cancellation, which occurred in March 2025, has sparked public concern. In a petition to the Senate Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Chimera has called for an explanation of the factors that led to the withdrawal of the positions.
Among the roles scrapped were 60 legal researcher positions and 111 internship opportunities. According to a JSC notice dated March 4, 2025, the cancellation was attributed to ongoing financial constraints affecting the country.
The withdrawn vacancies included 60 legal researcher roles, 25 diploma internships in office administration, and 12 graduate internships in information and communication technology (ICT). Other affected areas included internships in supply chain management, records management, electrical and mechanical engineering, and architecture.
Chimera has criticized the commission for proceeding with the advertisements without first confirming budget availability, arguing that this oversight misled many qualified applicants and dashed their hopes.
He also raised concerns about the potential impact on the Judiciary’s performance, particularly due to the shortage of legal researchers. The senator is urging the committee to investigate why the JSC failed to assess its financial capacity before posting the vacancies, and to provide clarity on whether the positions will be re-advertised.
Chief Justice Martha Koome has previously highlighted the issue of chronic underfunding in the Judiciary. During the release of the 2023-2024 State of the Judiciary and Administration of Justice Report, she revealed that the institution’s budget had been slashed by almost half over the last three financial years. Despite a 99 percent case clearance rate, she said limited funding continued to hinder further progress.
Chimera stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the JSC’s hiring process and called on the Senate Committee to ensure the concerns of affected candidates are adequately addressed.
