REPUBLIC OF KENYA

JUDICIARY
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATION

PROFILES OF PERSONS RECOMMENDED TO THE PRESIDENT FOR APPOINTMENT AS

JUDGES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL

1. MR. JUSTICE FRANCIS TUIYOTT

Justice Francis Tuiyott, currently serving as High Court Judge at Milimani Commercial
and Tax Division, holds Master of Laws from the University of London, Bachelors of Laws
Degree from the University of Nairobi and Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of
Law.
He served with AGN Kamau Advocates and at Maraga & Company Advocates as well as
with Nyaundi Tuiyott & Company Advocates. He was chairman of Sugar Arbitration
Tribunal between 2010 and 2011.
He was trained in Foundation Mediation Skills Training Course at Strathmore.
Justice Tuiyott was appointed judge of the High Court Judge in 2011. His experience as
legal practitioner spans 20 years.

2. LADY JUSTICE OMONDI HELLEN AMOLLO OWINO

Justice Hellen Omondi Amollo Owino holds Masters Degree in Women’s Laws from the
University of Zimbabwe, Bachelors of Laws Degree from the University of Nairobi and a
Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.

She studied at the University of Minnesota in 1999 for her a certificate in Graduate
Study and Professional Development.
She was admitted to Roll of Advocates in 1985. Her experience as a magistrate spans 22
years.
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 Justice Omondi joined the judicial service as a District Magistrate II (Prof.) in 1985 rising
to become a Chief Magistrate in 2003, a position she held until 2007 when she was
recruited judge of the High Court of Kenya.

3. LADY JUSTICE NYAMWEYA PAULINE NYAKOBOKE

Justice Pauline Nyamweya Nyakoboke holds a Master of Laws from the University of
Cambridge, Bachelor of Laws Degree from University of Nairobi and Diploma in Law
from the Kenya School of Law.

She trained in Women, Gender and Development at Royal Tropical Institute in 1996,
Protection of Human Rights at Netherland Institute of Human Rights in 1998 and in
International Maritime Law in 2011. She holds a certificate in Total Quality Management
course which she attained in 1999.

She served as Secretary to the Capital Markets Authority from 2002 to 2008 and Deputy
Secretary at the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission in 2001 to 2006.

She was Head of Programmes at the Public Law Institute in 1993 to 2001 and taught at
the University of Nairobi in the Department of Public Law from 1992 until her
appointment as Judge of the High Court in 2011.

She was admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 1991.

4. MR. JUSTICE KORIR WELDON KIPYEGON

Justice Weldon Kipyegon Korir, a Certified Public Secretary, holds Master of Business
Administration from the Kenya Methodist University, Bachelor of Laws Degree from the
University of Nairobi and Diploma from the Kenya School of Law.

He is trained in various fields such as in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Judicial

Dialogue on HIV, Human Rights and Law in Eastern and Southern Africa. He attended
Professional Development Training Seminar on the Impact of the Constitution on the
Criminal Justice System in 2011.

He served as an Assistant Administrator General II before joining the judicial service as a

magistrate in 1993. Justice Korir worked as a magistrate until 2011 when he was
appointed Judge of the High Court.

He was admitted to the roll of Advocates in 1991.

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 5. JUSTICE MBOGHOLI MSAGHA

Justice Mbogholi Msagha, formerly the Principal Judge of the High Court, holds a
Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Dar es Salaam and a diploma of Law
from the Kenya School of Law.
He served in private legal practice in 1978 before joining the judicial service.
Justice Mbogholi previously worked as presiding Judge of the Criminal Division and the
Land and Environment Division at Milimani High Court. As Judge of the High Court,
Justice Msagha served in Bungoma, Mombasa, Kakamega and Nairobi.
He served as a member of the Judicial Training and the East Africa Judicial Training
Committees. Further, he chaired the Mtongwe Ferry Disaster Commission of Inquiry in
1994.
He was member of various committees and associations including the Expeditious
Disposal of Cases Committee and the International Association of Refugee Law Judges
among others.
He chairs the Technical Committee on Rules for implementation of the High Court
Organisation and Administration Act, the Taskforce on Sentencing Policy Guidelines and
the Board of Trustees, Judicial Service Staff Pension Scheme.
He is currently the presiding judge of the Civil Division at Milimani and chairs the
Judiciary Committee on Elections (JCE).
Judge Msagha is the patron and member of the Board of Refugee Consortium of Kenya.

He was admitted to the Bar in 1978. He has served the Judiciary for 29 years.

6. JUSTICE AGGREY OTSYULA MUCHELULE

Justice Aggrey Otsyula Muchelule, currently the presiding Judge of the Family Division at
Milimani High Court, holds a Master of Laws Degree from the University of Nairobi,
Bachelor of Laws from the same University and a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School
of Law.
He joined the judicial service as a District Magistrate II (Prof) in 1982, rising to a Chief
Magistrate. As Chief Magistrate, he served in Mombasa, Kakamega, Nairobi and Eldoret.
He was appointed High Court judge in 2009, working in Kisii, Nairobi and Kisumu. He
was presiding judge at Embu and Bungoma High Courts.

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 He served on the Task Force on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and was a
Commissioner to the Judicial Service Commission. He has served on various committees
including the Judicial Reform and Development Committee among others.

He was a member to various professional bodies such as the East Africa Magistrates and
Judges Association, Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association and many
others. He served as chairman of Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association between
1994 and 1998.

7. DR. KIBAYA IMAANA LAIBUTA

Dr. Kibaya Imaana Laibuta is a Senior Lecturer at Technical University of Kenya. He holds
Doctor of Philosophy in Laws from the University of Nairobi, Master of Laws from the
University of London and Bachelors of Laws Degree from University of Nairobi.
He qualified for a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law in 1987. Dr Laibuta
attained another Diploma in Legislative Drafting from the African Centre for Legal
Excellence in 2015.

He served as Administrative Legal Officer at Legal Aid Centre between 1987 to 1989
before moving on to work as Legal Assistant both at F.E. Jamal Advocates in 1990 and
1991 and at Chawla & Company Advocates in 1991. Dr Laibuta later became Senior
Partner at Laibuta Kamau & Company Advocates between 1991 and 2010 and
Commissioner at Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution from 2011 to
2015.

He is Consultant at Bridge House Consultants since 2002 and Senior Lecturer at

Technical University of Kenya from 1988.

He is a member of the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration, an Accredited

Mediator since 2016 and a Member of CIArb. He was admitted to the Roll of Advocates
in 1987 and has been in legal practice for 11 years.

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 8. LADY JUSTICE LESIIT JESSIE WANJIKU

Lady Justice Jessie Lesiit Wanjiku holds Bachelor of Laws Degree from University of
Nairobi and Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
She joined the judicial service as District Magistrate II (Prof) and rose through the ranks
to serve as a Chief Magistrate from 1999 until 2002, when she was appointed Judge of
the High Court.
She has training in various courses including Women in Senior Management, University
of Bradford, Altar Counseling from NPC School of Ministries Training Program, Corporate
Governance and Effective Directorship Seminar, Emerging Issues in Criminal Laws
Procedure and UNODC Maritime Crime and Criminal Justice Training Programme. In
addition, she holds a certificate in Total Quality Management.

She was admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 1983. She has served as Judge of the High
Court for 16 years.

9. LADY JUSTICE GRACE MUMBI NGUGI

Justice Grace Mumbi Ngugi holds a Masters of Law Degree for the London School of
Economics and Political Science, University of London, Bachelor of Laws Degree from the
University of Nairobi and Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.

She has experience of 20 years as a legal practitioner in public, private and civil society.
She worked as Legal Counsel and Company Secretary at the Pioneer General Assurance
between 1989 and 1993 as well as a State Counsel at the AG’s Chambers in 1989 among
other jobs. She served as partner in the Njogu and Ngugi Advocates (1993 – 2011), Lead
Research and Compiler, Biannual Human Rights Reports, Kenya Human Rights
Commission (2006-2011), consultant on legal issues, Ministry of Transport (2010), Legal
Counsel Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA- Kenya) and as Associate Consultant, Legal
Resources Foundation.
Justice Ngugi who has authored over 13 reports and papers which she presented at
various forums, served as High Court Judge for seven years in the Constitutional and
Human Rights Division at Milimani High Court (2011 - 2016) and as Presiding Judge at
the High Court of Kericho (2016-19).
In March 2019, she was appointed to serve as the Presiding Judge in the Anti-Corruption
and Economic Crimes Division at Milimani High Court.

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 She is a chairperson to the Judicial Education Sub-Committee of the Africa Judges Forum
on HIV and AIDS and a member of National Legal Aid Service Board, International
Association of Refugee Law Judges (IARLJ), as well as the Regional Judges’ Forum on HIV,
Human Rights and the Law.
Further, she was a member of the Judiciary Leadership Advisory Committee (2013-
2016), Disability Mainstreaming Committee (2015-2016) and of the Committee on
Sexual Harassment Policy (2014 - 2015), among many other responsibilities.
She served as consultant on development of the Commonwealth Judicial Bench Book on
Violence against Women in East Africa.
She has won various awards including the C.B Madan Prize (2018), LSK Distinguished
Service Award 2015, ICJ- Kenya Jurists of the Year 2013 and Brand Kenya Ambassador
Award 2013, among other awards.
She was admitted to the Bar in 1988. She is the patron of Cambridge University
Commonwealth Law Journal.

10. JUSTICE GEORGE VINCENT ODUNGA

Justice George Vincent Odunga holds a Bachelors of Laws Degree from the University of
Nairobi. He studied for his Diploma in Law at the Kenya School of Law in 1994.

Before joining judicial service, Judge Odunga practiced as an Advocate at Rajn K.

Somaiya between 1995 and 2001 before moving on to join Behan and Okero Advocates
as partner, serving from 2002 to 2011, when he was appointed judge of the High Court.
He has training in Enhancing Maritime Law Jurisprudence in Kenya.

Judge Odunga was admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 1995. He served for 16 years as
a legal practitioner.

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 11. JUSTICE JOEL MWAURA NGUGI
Prof Justice Joel Mwaura Ngugi holds Doctor of Juridical Sciences and Master of Laws
from the Harvard University. He qualified for his Bachelor of Laws Degree at University
of Nairobi in 1996 and Postgraduate Diploma in Law at the Kenya School of Law in 1997.

He taught at Ilkisonko Secondary School in 1994 before joining Kariuki Muigua &
Company Advocates as Associate in 1996. He then moved on to serve as Legal Officer at
United Nations Mission in Kosovo in 2002.

He was a Researcher at Weatherhead CTR (Harvard) and Fellow/TA at Harvard Law

School in 2000 and 2001. He became Associate at Foley Hoag Boston in 2002 until 2004
when he became Associate Professor at University of Washington. He served in this
positon until 2011 when he was appointed Judge of the High Court.

Judge Ngugi has authored many articles, publications and won several awards. He was
admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 1998.

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