Thika Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo has officially unveiled her manifesto for her candidacy for the position of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) commissioner.
She unveiled a bold five-year reform manifesto that seeks to transform the welfare, security, and career progression of judicial officers across the country.
In her campaign pitch, Atambo promises to institutionalize welfare support by creating a permanent Welfare Desk within the JSC, pushing for ring-fenced budgets on allowances and mortgages, and securing comprehensive medical cover that includes mental health and chronic illness.
She emphasizes that judicial officers’ dignity at work must be safeguarded through structured and transparent reforms rather than ad hoc lobbying.
Security is another central pillar of her agenda. Atambo pledges to expand Judiciary Police Unit coverage, secure enhanced allowances for officers in high-risk zones, and establish a 24/7 rapid response hotline.
She also promises psychosocial support programs and a judicial security policy that embeds officer protection in Treasury allocations.
Her manifesto also tackles career growth, where she vows to end favoritism in promotions by codifying criteria and timelines, ensuring backdated benefits for delayed promotions, and harmonizing magistrates’ retirement age.
She proposes publishing digital scorecards and dashboards to make career progression transparent and predictable.
On disciplinary matters, Atambo is pushing for codified sanctions linked to specific misconduct, protection of whistleblowers, and confidential, fair hearings that safeguard reputations.
She further commits to reforming transfers by introducing predictable cycles, written justifications, and hardship support to prevent transfers from being used as punishment.
Atambo also outlines plans to make the JSC more transparent and accessible by creating feedback portals, publishing annual Judiciary Scorecards, and setting up a Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association caucus in Parliament to defend judicial officers’ welfare.
She promises to leverage digital and AI tools to monitor policies and enhance accountability.
“My candidature is about giving judicial officers structured dignity, protection, and fair opportunities. This is not a privilege but a right, and with me in the JSC, it will be safeguarded,” she says, positioning herself as the reform-driven choice in the race for commissioner
