The Supreme Court of Kenya has been conferred with the African Bar Association (AfBA) prestigious Medal of Merit for Judicial Excellence.
The Association recognised the Court’s outstanding leadership in advancing transformative jurisprudence, upholding constitutional supremacy, and fortifying democratic governance across Africa since its establishment under the 2010 Constitution.
The award was formally presented to the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court, Martha Koome, in the presence of Supreme Court judges: Lady Justice Philomena Mwilu (Deputy Chief Justice and the Vice President of the Court), Lady Justice Njoki Ndungu, Justice Isaac Lenaola and Justice William Ouko.
CJ Koome expressed gratitude for the honour, describing it as both a celebration and a reminder of the Judiciary’s sacred duty to serve the people of Kenya with integrity and fairness.
“We are humbled that the work of the Supreme Court, born out of duty, guided by conscience, and anchored in the Constitution, has found resonance beyond our borders. This recognition affirms not only the effort of one court but the collective spirit of a nation that believes in the rule of law,” she said.
The Chief Justice said the award underscores Kenya’s democratic maturity and the public’s enduring trust in judicial institutions, even during moments of political contestation.
“This award is particularly meaningful because it speaks to the highest ideals of judicial calling: excellence in service, fidelity to the Constitution, and faith in the rule of law. It reminds us that the trust placed in the Judiciary must be earned daily through fairness, integrity, and excellence,” she added.
The Chief Justice paid tribute to her colleagues on the Supreme Court Bench.
“This award affirms that African courts are not merely followers of global justice, but leaders in shaping it,” Chief Justice Koome observed.
“As the apex court, we will continue to walk steadfastly in service to truth and justice, nurturing jurisprudence that strengthens democracy, protects human dignity, and inspires trust in the rule of law.”
Supreme Court judges during the award ceremony / HANDOUT In its citation, the African Bar Association lauded the Supreme Court of Kenya for ushering in a new era of transformative constitutionalism since its establishment in 2011.
The citation highlighted the Court’s landmark decisions including the 2012 Advisory Opinion on the two-thirds gender principle; the Rai v Rai social justice ruling; the decision to drop out of the judges wearing traditional attire with colonial reference to a more African oriented attire; Peter Munya vs Dickson MMwenda and 2 others petition; the 2017 and 2022 Presidential Election Petitions all of which have reinforced Kenya’s democracy and inspired confidence in electoral justice across the continent.
In the citation, the AfBA emphasised that the [Supreme] Court’s 2022 adjudication not only reinforced Kenya’s constitutional framework but also set a gold standard for judicial excellence in Africa, fostering public trust in electoral justice and averting potential instability.
The Court’s balanced approach, emphasising evidence-based reasoning over political pressures, has inspired judiciaries continent-wide, advancing good governance and the peaceful transfer of power.
The African Bar Association honours the Supreme Court of Kenya’s legacy of principled jurisprudence - a pillar of democratic resilience.
Advocate Charles Kihara, who is the Vice President - East Africa, in the African Bar Association Executive Council, presented the award on behalf of the Association whose headquarters is in Accra, Ghana.
He was flanked by Advocate Nicholas Sumba, who is the Director of Information and Publicity at AfBA; Senior Counsel Charles Kanjama and Senior Counsel Kamau Karori.
