JSC nominates Isaac Lenaola for Supreme Court judge

Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has on Tuesday nominated High Court judge Isaac Lenaola to replace retired Justice Philip Tunoi at the Supreme Court.

Justice Lenaola beat 21 other candidates who were shortlisted for the position although several applicants withdrew from the process including Justice Pauline Nyamweya who dropped saying she was from the same community as the newly appointed Chief Justice David Maraga.

“After lengthy deliberations the JSC has recommended Hon. Justice Isaac Lenaola for appointment as judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya and has submitted the name to His Excellency the President,” said a statement by the vice chairman JSC Margaret Kobia.

During his interview, Justice Isaac Lenaola chided the Supreme Court accusing it of laxity in dealing with important questions including its jurisprudence and election petitions.

“A court of such seriousness, the one we expected to serve as a constitutional court, should have at least have settled the questions of national importance such as the death penalty, abortion among others that affect all of us,” said the High Court judge.

Justice Lenaola is an alumnus of Alliance High School which he attended between 1981 to 1986 before enrolling for a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Nairobi.

In 1990, Justice Lenaola joined the Kenya School of Law for the Advocates Training Programme.

The High Court judge has had a distinguished career having also served in the East African Court of Justice.