Kenyan judge Martha Koome has defended dissidents and helped to write women’s rights into the constitution – now parliament has confirmed her to be the first female chief justice in a country where the role is particularly sensitive.
A child of subsistence farmers, she was chosen by a judicial panel in preference to the lawyer who argued President Uhuru Kenyatta’s case in a 2017 battle with the Supreme Court that she will now head.
Kenyatta will swear her into office in coming days after parliament voted to approve her nomination on Wednesday. That makes her likely to be in place during next year’s elections, when Kenyatta must step down after two terms in office.
Kenya set to appoint first female chief justice at sensitive moment
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Kenya set to appoint first female chief justice at sensitive moment
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Kenya set to appoint first female chief justice at sensitive moment
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Do You Hate Men? Junet s Unusual Question to Koome
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed (left) and lady justice Martha Koome.
File
JLAC member and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed had a rather unusual question for Koome over her past relations with the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and whether she harboured animosity towards the male gender. There s talk that you are a feminist and you hate men. Please clarify that Junet posed.
Suna East MP Junet Mohammed speaking during a press conference
Facebook I have decided many cases where I have declared rights for men. One case is where a father wanted to throw out his sons from his farm because he believed that they are grown men and ought to fend for themselves. I dismissed the case.