Tributes Pour in for Judy Thongori: An Icon of Legal Prowess

Judy Thongori SC, exceptional advocate and champion for justice has passed on, due to medical complications, leaving a profound void in the legal community and beyond.

Her death, announced on January 14, 2025, by Dr. Fred Ojiambo, Chair of the Senior Counsel Bar, has sent shockwaves through Kenya, where she was revered for her unwavering commitment to women's rights and family law.

Known for her landmark lawsuit against the Kenyan government for failing to ensure 30 percent representation for women, Judy Thongori was a formidable force in the fight for equality. “Judy was the country’s foremost authority in family law,” Dr. Ojiambo stated, highlighting her recognition on the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Roll of Honour for her distinguished contributions to the legal profession.

Judy has a career spanning more than 30 years. As the founder of Judy Thongori & Co. Advocates in 2003, she dedicated her practice to family law.

After earning her law degree from the University of Nairobi and a postgraduate diploma from the Kenya School of Law, Judy began her career at the Attorney General’s office before joining Lee Muthoga and Associates. It was here that she recognized the urgent need for advocacy, particularly in the realm of women's rights.

Judy's commitment extended beyond the courtroom; she actively organized training sessions for police officers, addressing the alarming trend of negligence towards domestic abuse cases, especially those dependent on male income.

Her persistent efforts earned her accolades, including being the first woman inducted into the LSK Roll of Honour in 2013 and receiving recognition for her pro bono legal services in 2015. Her exemplary work in the legal field culminated in her elevation to the rank of Senior Counsel.

In 2023, during the investigation into the Shakahola forest bodies’ mystery, Judy was appointed to a committee by President William Ruto to examine the activities of radical religious groups, further demonstrating her commitment to justice and community welfare.

Tributes have poured in from prominent figures, including President William Ruto, who has expressed his condolences via social media X: “We join the family, friends, and the legal fraternity in mourning the loss of Judy Thongori SC, an exceptional advocate and champion for justice. Her dedication to family law and human rights touched many lives and left a lasting impact on our society.”

Members of the legal fraternity have echoed these sentiments. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo remarked, “Judy Thongori SC has been a monument of legal prowess and exemplified all the qualities of a professional North Star.

Her noteworthy contributions to family law and human rights are timeless and continue to propagate a learning curve for many in the profession. The legacy she leaves behind will remain an indelible mark of her impact that lives on among us.”

Meanwhile, former LSK president Nelson Havi noted, “A distinguished and respected legal giant in family law, Judy Thongori SC departs, leaving our mobile law library with a whole shelf missing. Death is one such extrajudicial decision in respect of which an appeal, however meritorious, is precluded.”

Furthermore, the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula has also eulogized Judy Thongori saying, “I rise with a heavy heart to join my colleagues in the legal fraternity and the nation at large in mourning the untimely demise of Senior Counsel Judy Thongori, a beacon of excellence in Family Law and an unwavering advocate for women’s rights.”