Nairobi — Winfridah Mokaya assumed office as Chief Registrar of the Judiciary (CRJ) on Monday following her inauguration at a ceremony presided by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

Chief Justice Martha Koome appointed Mokaya to serve a five-year term on March 19, a day after the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) considered seven candidates for the position.

Speaking at her inauguration, Mokaya committed to sustaining efforts toward adequate budgetary allocations for the Judiciary and resolving persistent underfunding.

"Having been a judicial officer working in the regions and in the administration where I have spent the past thirteen years, I have been at the forefront of the administration of justice and understood the aspirations and expectations of the Kenyan people in the Judiciary," Mokaya said.

She promised to support judges, judicial officers, and Judiciary staff, in particular CJ Koome's blueprint for 'Social Transformation through Access to Justice' (STAJ).

In remarks at the event, Koome promised to support Mokaya to attain the Judiciary's overall objective.

"We stand ready to support Hon. Mokaya we eagerly [and] look forward to our collaborative efforts in pursuit of our shared vision as outlined in our institutional blueprint," she said.

A host of guests including the immediate former Chief Justice David Maraga and Mokaya's predecessor Anne Amadi attended the inauguration.

JSC settled on Mokaya from a pool of seven candidates including Macharia Rose Wachuka, serving as Chief Justice Martha Koome's Chief of Staff, and Ndemo Paul Maina, the Deputy CRJ who assumed the role in an acting capacity following the exit of former CRJ Anne Amadi in January.

The panel also interviewed Ouma Jack Busalile, Wambeti Ann Ireri, Kendagor Caroline Jepyegen, and Kandet Kennedy Lenkamai.