Records held by women in Kenya’s judicial system

By Peter Ochieng

“What a man can do, a woman can do it better,” goes a popular saying.

For several years, women have put the saying into practice by exceling and holding key positions especially in Kenya’s judicial system, with Martha Koome and Dorcas Oduor’s ascension to positions of Chief Justice and Attorney General respectively, becoming the major success stories.

We give a highlight of women who have, over the years, set the pace in the country’s justice system.

Katharine Hurst

The first female prosecutor in the Kenya Colony.

She achieved the feat in 1953.

Kalpana Rawal

Rawal became the female lawyer in Kenya, upon establishment of her law practice in 1975. She later became the first female judge of Asian descent in Kenya, in 2000.

Joyce Nuku Khaminwa

She is the first African female lawyer to establish a private practice in Kenya.

Joyce did it in 1978.

Effie Owuor

Holds the record of the first female judge of the High Court of Kenya.

Owuor was appointed as a Judge of the High Court in 1982.

She was also the first female to be appointed as a State Counsel in the 60s, magistrate in 1971, and Judge of the Court of Appeal in 2003.

Roselyn Naliaka Nambuye

Nambuye was the first female to serve as a Principal Magistrate in Kenya.

The feat was achieved in 1988.

Mary Ang'awa

Ang’awa was the first woman to serve as the Chief Magistrate of an Anti-Corruption Court in Kenya.

She held the position in 1990.

Raychelle Awuor Omamo

The first woman to serve as the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in 2001.

She later served as Cabinet Secretary (CS) in retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.

Abida Ali-Aroni

She was the first Muslim woman to be appointed as a Judge of the High Court, in 2009.

Joyce Aluoch

She was the first Kenyan to serve as a Judge of the International Criminal Court.

Aluoch landed the appointment in 2009.

Nancy Makokha Baraza

Baraza was the first woman to serve as the Deputy Chief Justice, and Vice President of the Supreme Court of Kenya.

She landed the appointment in 2011, but her stay in office was short-lived. She was removed from office after being accused of pinching a female security guard.

Josephine Rotiken

She became the first Maasai female lawyer in Kenya, in 2017.

Caroline Tegeret

The first Ogiek female lawyer in Kenya.

Philomena Mbete Mwilu

The first woman to serve as the Acting Chief Justice, and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, in 2021.

Martha Koome

The first woman to serve as the Chief Justice, and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya.

Koome occupied the seat in 2021, succeeding the retired David Kenani Maraga.

Dorcas Agik Oduor

The first woman to serve as the Attorney General of Kenya.

She landed the appointment less than a year ago.