Kenya’s Top Lawyers honored with Senior Counsel Rank

Attorney General Githu Muigai and Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko are among fifteen lawyers who were conferred with the Rank of Senior Counsel.

A 10-person committee chaired by former Attorney General Amos Wako, chose 15 from a list of 49 lawyers who sent their applications, in accordance with the Advocates Act of 2011.  

MauMau Veterans to sue British Government

A historic judgment made in a British High Court on Friday has given three elderly Kenyans the right to sue the British Government for torture and sexual abuse during the Mau Mau Uprising.

The three Senior Kenyan citizens who include Jane Muthoni Mara, Paulo Muoka Nzili and Wambugu Wa Nyingi were allegedly subjected to torture and sexual abuse to the extent of castration in Nzili’s case.

High Court Judge Richard McCombe rejected the British’s Government argument that too much time had elapsed for a fair hearing to take place and ordered for a full trial.

The fourth Kenyan, Ndiku Mutwiwa Mutua who was part of three seeking justice died while waiting for the case to reach trail.

The trio’s prayers have been answered and can now sue the British Government for compensation.

Back in the country, it was all celebration and dance with over 100 Mau Mau Veterans gathered at the Kenya Human Rights Commission Offices in Nairobi.

Nobel Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu who recently received the Mo Ibrahim Award said that the British government should take responsibility and show compassion towards the senior victims. 

The British government, which is bracing itself for other numerous legal claims from Kenyans who were allegedly illegally imprisoned and abused during the colonial era, has said it will appeal the High Court ruling.  

“Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?” – Mahatma Gandhi

The Wanjiku Statue is unveiled

Today at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the judiciary led by the Chief Justice Willy Mutunga launched the Judiciary Blueprint. The Blueprint is expected to transform the Judiciary for the next five years.

The event was crowned by the unveiling of the one-metre tall statue of Wanjiku, the woman depicted by cartoonist Gado in the dailies.

“She is a philosopher, an ideologue for progressive change, human rights activist, a feminist and a mother of all Kenyans. She is not intimidated by the powers that be.”

Dr. Mutunga said during a meeting with the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee

The statue is the work of Kevin Oduor aka Kevvo.

Lawrence Murugu Mute

Born in 1969, Meru County Mute is an accomplished lawyer, poet and human rights activist who currently serves as a Commissioner of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). Being visual impaired has never shaken the lawyer whose area of expertise include governance, constitutionalism, media and disability.

Hon. Lady Justice Njoki Susanna Ndung’u EBS

Born in 1965, she is renowned for her efforts in the successive enactment of the Sexual Offences Act 2006 and Maternity and Paternity Act 2007. The former nominated Member of Parliament currently serves as a Supreme Court judge and executive Chairperson for Center for Legal Communication & Information in Kenya (CLICK).

Mwananchi: Wanjiku

 Wanjiku

No one knows her real name or what she looks like but everyone understood that what she wanted was a new constitution and a better future for Kenya. What Kenyans will not forget is how the political battles have been waged in her name.

Wanjiku is a feminine Kikuyu name that is used to symbolize the ordinary person in Kenyan politics. Wanjiku was coined by the former president Daniel T. Arap Moi in dismissal of calls for a new constitution. He said, “Do you think Wanjiku Understands what is a constitution?” Since then the name has continued to be used and eminently in caricature.