Former Chief Justice David Maraga is among six Kenyans recognised by the Youth Congress in the 2025 Katiba Roll of Honour for their outstanding contributions to defending and promoting the constitution.
The 2025 edition of the Katiba Roll of Honour was unveiled during Katiba Day in Nairobi, marking 15 years since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
The event, hosted in partnership with Creative Spills, The Elephant, and supported by Alliance Française, brought together youth, artists, activists, and legal minds to reflect on Kenya’s constitutional journey.
According to the group, the celebration was both a recognition of the constitution’s enduring promise and the people who continue to defend it.
“Katiba Day gives us a unique moment to reflect on the journey, take stock of progress, and plan ways of realising the promise of the Constitution,” Raphael Obonyo, the founder, said.
"The Constitution gives us power, but equally, we must give it power through our participation and choices.”
The 2025 Katiba Roll of Honour recognised six figures drawn from diverse generations and struggles.
They include the late Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee, veteran lawyer John Khaminwa, former Chief Justice David Maraga, activist Wanjira Wanjiru, youth leader Shakira Wafula, and founder of Tribeless Youth Movement Shikoh Kihika.
Nowrojee, who passed away in April, was remembered for his decades-long commitment to justice during Kenya’s turbulent political history.
From the 1980s through the 1990s, he defended political detainees and journalists against state oppression.
"Senior Counsel Pheroze Nowrojee was the people’s attorney. His thoughts and footprints are in every milestone Kenya has attained, including the 2010 Constitution,” Obonyo said as his widow, Viloo, received the award on his behalf.
Khaminwa, Kenya’s oldest practising lawyer, was celebrated for his resilience in the fight for democracy and human rights.
Detained under the Moi regime for representing pro-democracy leaders such as Raila Odinga and Kenneth Matiba, Khaminwa has remained steadfast in using the law as a tool of resistance.
“Lawyers must fight for democratic space, uphold the Constitution, and the rule of law,” he said.
Maraga was recognised for his historic decision in 2017 that nullified the presidential election, a ruling hailed globally as a triumph of constitutional supremacy.
His firm stance on the gender rule and continued advocacy for justice after leaving office cemented his place on the Roll of Honour.
The younger honorees reflected the new wave of activism sweeping Kenya.
Wanjira Wanjiru, co-founder of the Mathare Social Justice Centre, was honoured for amplifying the voices of marginalised communities.
Shakira Wafula, who rose to prominence during the 2024 Gen Z protests, was recognised for mobilising support for detained protesters and organising youth resistance
Shikoh Kihika, founder of the Tribeless Youth Movement, was celebrated for her innovative use of art and dialogue to combat negative ethnicity and promote civic engagement.
Since its launch in 2024, the Katiba Roll of Honour has recognised constitutional giants such as Yash Pal Ghai, Willy Mutunga, Faith Odhiambo, Okiya Omtatah, Hanifa Safia Adan, and Kennedy Odede.
This year’s awardees, Obonyo said, symbolise the enduring struggle to uphold Kenya’s constitutional ideals.
“The Constitution is not just a document; it is a living promise. Its power rests in our hands, and we must determine our future,” he said.
