THE 2020 CB MADAN AWARDS COMMITTEE IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE

8TH CB MADAN PRIZE RECIPIENT

THE POST-DOCTORAL LEGAL SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI’S SCHOOL OF LAW

FOR THEIR

“COMMITMENT AND OUTSTANDING SCHOLARLY CONTRIBUTION TO CONSTITUTIONALISM AND THE RULE OF LAW IN KENYA”

 

C.B. MADAN PRIZE CITATION

FOR

THE POST-DOCTORAL LEGAL SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI’S SCHOOL OF LAW 

As the bedrock of just and peaceful societies, the rule of law has played a significant role in elevating Africa to the status of the world’s most rapidly growing economic region. Apart from bringing about economic transformation, the rule of law has been instrumental in influencing social and political transformation on the continent. Over the last fifty years, the University of Nairobi’s School of Law has been part of this transformation through the training of more than 12,000 lawyers who continue to play a central role in safeguarding the rule of law in Kenya and abroad.  More than 124 of these lawyers have advanced in their studies and attained Doctor of Philosophy degrees (PhDs) either from their alma mater or from other distinguished law schools across the world. This has sharpened their skills and opened multiple pathways of public or non-governmental service through which they continue to shape the next generation of scholars, practitioners and global leaders. While we have lost some of these leading luminaries, those that remain among us, including those who currently or in the past have taught at Kenya’s premier law faculty, continue to influence the trajectory of legal discourse in the country and beyond. It is these post-doctoral legal scholars whose basic (Bachelor of Laws) legal education was obtained from the University of Nairobi who are, collectively, the recipients of the 8th C.B. Madan Prize for the year 2020.

 

 

The recipients of the award exemplify the characteristics of C.B. Madan who has been hailed as the best Judge and Chief Justice that Kenya has ever had due to his brilliance and independence, his sense of justice and deep understanding of the law, and – above all - his respect for the rule of law. The post-doctoral legal scholars we honour today have been at the forefront in ensuring that they not only impart knowledge of the law required in professional practice, business, and government, but they also undertake transformative work across the globe.  They have maintained a distinctive character in contribution to the legal profession and the legal fraternity in Kenya and are the leading source of legal knowledge and skills in the country.

 

At the local level, the post-doctoral scholars have made significant contributions to the rule of law by serving as academics in various public and private universities, as senior legal officers, as senior members of government, as legislators and technical staff of Parliament, as Magistrates and Judges of Superior Courts, and as members and technical experts of key constitutional bodies, including the Kenya Constitutional Review Commission, the Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review, the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution, the Truth Justice & Reconciliation Commission, the Kenya Law Reform Commission and the Judicial Service Commission.

 

Their ground breaking work in support for the rule of law has been felt beyond the borders of Kenya through their contributions to the work of a variety of international organisations, including: the International Criminal Court, the International Finance Corporation, the United States Department of Defence, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Campus of Human Rights, the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC), the International Centre for Not for Profit Law (USA), the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly & Association, the African Union, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the African Centre for Strategic Studies (USA), the Centre for International Criminal Justice (Africa), the African Peer Review Mechanism, and the East Africa Law Society.

The scholars, in their distinguished service, have traversed various disciplines in public and private law. Their scholarly influence and setting trends in legal philosophy is notable across the fields of international law, human rights, constitutional law, environmental law, corporate governance, governance, family law, commercial law, to mention a few out of a potentially non-exhaustible list.

 

The post-doctoral legal scholars we celebrate today can trace their background to the University of Nairobi’s School of Law which was founded in the late 1960s as the Department of Commercial Law in the Faculty of Commerce. It was constituted into a fully-fledged Faculty of Law in 1970 and has evolved steadily from the small department to its current status as a hub of legal scholarship and a champion provider of legal education in East and Central Africa. We are also glad to note that many of the post-doctoral legal scholars are active members of the School’s Alumni Chapter who continue to support the School’s programmes and activities in various ways. The School, which marks its 50th Anniversary this year, has a range and depth of expertise in various fields of legal scholarship, with more than 40 members of its staff being holders of PhDs in law.

We congratulate the post-doctoral legal scholars of the University of Nairobi’s School of Law for this outstanding achievement.

Even as we celebrate these scholars, we are mindful of the fact that the rule of law is constantly under threat in nations across the globe, and this calls for legal scholars to engage continuously with other stakeholders to safeguard and cement the rule of law. Closer home, we are currently going through a contentious constitutional moment as we mark the 10th year since the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. Millions of Kenyans are looking up to these scholars and the rest of us in the legal fraternity to offer a voice of reason and a candid informed assessment of the proposals that have been made.

There are endless opportunities for post-doctoral scholars in academia, in the private sector, in public service, and in national and international non-governmental organizations, and we hope this award will inspire current law students and other young lawyers to advance their studies and to pick up the baton in this never-ending race towards a just, peaceful and truly democratic society governed by the rule of law.

 

University of Nairobi’s School of Law Post-Doctoral Scholars WHO HAVE ATTAINED DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREES (PhDs) BETWEEN 1970 AND 2020 [1]

       

Class of 1974

Justice (Prof.) Jackton Ojwang, Judge (Rtd), Supreme Court of Kenya and former Dean, School of Law, University of Nairobi.

Class of 1975

Prof. Shadrack Gutto, Visiting Professor of Laikipia University; Emeritus Professor, Institute for African Renaissance Studies, Thabo Mbeki School of African Public & International Affairs, University of South Africa (UNISA); former Associate Professor, University of the Witwatersrand and former Lecturer in law at the University of Nairobi and University of Zimbabwe.

Class of 1976

1. Hon. (Prof.) Kivutha Kibwana, Governor of Makueni County; former Minister for Environment and Natural Resources; former Member of Parliament for Makueni Constituency; and former Dean, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Hon. (Dr.) Bonaya Godana, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kenya; former Member of Parliament for North Horr Constituency; and former Chairman of the Public Law Department, School of Law, University of Nairobi (deceased).

Class of 1978

1. Prof. FDP Situma, Professor of Law and former Chairman of the Private Law Department, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Dan Bondi Ogolla, former Coordinator and Principal Legal Adviser, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
3. Justice (Dr.) Peter Muchoki Njoroge, Judge of the High Court of Kenya.

Class of 1980

1. Justice (Rtd) Dr. Nancy Baraza, former Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya and Vice President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Department of Public Law, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Prof. Makumi Mwagiru, Adjunct Professor of Diplomacy, Strathmore University.

Class of 1984

1. Prof. Githu Muigai, former Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya and Professor of Law, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Justice (Dr.) Smokin Wanjala, Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya.
3. Dr. Charles Moitui, Lecturer and Chairman of Postgraduate Studies, Kisii University Law School.

Class of 1985

1. Prof. Albert Mumma, Senior Counsel, Professor of Law, and Associate Dean, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Prof. Paul Musili Wambua, Chancellor of the University of Embu; Professor of Law, School of Law, University of Nairobi; former Dean of Kabarak University School of Law; and former Associate Dean, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
3. Prof. PLO Lumumba, former Secretary of the Kenya Constitutional Review Commission; former Director of the Kenya School of Law; and Founding Dean of Kabarak Law School.
4. Dr. Janet Kabeberi Macharia, Senior Advisor, Gender and Safeguards Unit, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
5. Prof. Laurence Juma, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Law, Rhodes University, South Africa.

Class of 1986

1. Prof. Winifred Kamau, Associate Professor and former Chair of the Private Law Department, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Henry Lugulu, Associate Dean and Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Moi University.
3. Dr. Harun Wachira Murage, New Jersey Lawyer.
4. Dr. Kibaya Laibuta, Advocate and Senior Lecturer, School of Law, University of Embu. 1986
5. Hon. Dr. Julie Ouma Oseko, Chief Magistrate, Judiciary of Kenya.

Class of 1987

1. Prof. Patricia Kameri Mbote, Senior Counsel, Professor of Law, and former Dean, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Prof. Phoebe Okowa, Professor of Public International Law, Queen Mary University of London.
3. Prof. Atieno Mboya Samandari, Professor of Law, Emory School of Law, USA.
4. Dr. Mutakha Kangu, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, Moi University.
5. Justice (Prof.) James Otieno Odek, former Judge of the Court of Appeal of Kenya and Dean, School of Law, University of Nairobi (deceased).

Class of 1988

1. Dr. Jacob Gakeri, CEO, Council of Legal Education.
2. Dr. Kariuki Muigua, Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Private Law Department, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
3. Dr. Ben Musau, Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
4. Dr. John Chebii, Dean, School of Law, Moi University.

Class of 1989

1. Dr. Hezekiel Oira, Senior Lecturer and former Dean MKU, School of Law.
2. Dr. Justry Lumumba Nyaberi, Partner, Nyaberi & Company Advocates.
3. Dr. Ken Kiplagat, Partner, Okoth & Kiplagat Advocates.

 

Class of 1990

1. Hon. Dr. Millicent Odeny, Judge of the High Court of Kenya (Eldoret).
2. Dr. Stephen Philip Mang'erere Aming'a, Lecturer, JKUAT School of Law & Head of Depatment, Law, Science and Technology; former Legal Officer, JKUAT; and former Company Secretary, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation. Advocate.
3. Dr. Ken Nyaundi, Partner, Marende and Nyaundi Associates and Chancellor of Laikipia University.
4. Dr. Charles Khamala, Senior Lecturer of Law and Academic Leader – Criminal Justice & Security Management Program, Africa Nazarene University Law School and Member of the Association of Defence Counsel Practising before International Courts and Tribunals.
5. Dr. Stephen Njiru, former Lecturer of the University of Manchester’s School of Law and former Chairman of the Legal and Regulatory Committee of the Geothermal Development Company Board of Directors (deceased).

 

 

 

Class of 1991/92

1. Prof. Ben Sihanya, Professor of Law and former Dean, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Prof. Tom Ojienda, Senior Counsel; former Commissioner of the Judicial Service Commission and the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission; former President of the East Africa Law Society and the Law Society of Kenya; and Associate Professor, School of Law, Moi University.
3. Dr. Scholastica Omondi, Associate Dean, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
4. Dr. Jane Dwasi, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
5. Dr. Ruth Aura, Dean, School of Law, Egerton University.
6. Dr. Rose Ndanu, General Manager, Corporate Services, Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation.
7. Dr. Mataywa Busieka, Director of International Relations at the Department of Public Service and Administration, Republic of South Africa.
8. Dr. Brenda Pamela Mey, Senior Manager Contracts (Legal), Infineon Technologies AG. Munich, Germany.
9. Dr. Dick Bosire Maragia, Assistant General Counsel, United States Department of Defence.
10. Dr. Mercy Deche, Vice Chair of the Judicial Service Commission and Lecturer at the School of Law, University of Nairobi.
11. Dr. Steve Ouma, Deputy Director, Judicial Training Institute.

Class of 1992/93

1. Dr. Akunga Momanyi, Associate Dean and Senior Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Elizabeth Muli, Senior Lecturer and Chairperson of the Commercial Law Department, School of Law, University of Nairobi; Commissioner of the Commission for University Education; and former Vice Chairperson of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution.
3. Dr. Wamuti Ndegwa, Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
4. Dr. Celestine Nyamu, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi and former Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex (UK).
5. Prof. James Gathii, Wing-Tat Lee Chair in International Law and Professor of Law, Loyola University Chicago, USA.
6. Dr. Wanjau Muriu, Partner at Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews Advocates.
7. Prof. Nixon Sifuna, Advocate and former Associate Professor, School of Law, Moi University.

Class of 1993

1. Dr. Henry Mutai, Director, Kenya School of Law.
2. Dr. Fred Nyagaka, Dean, School of Law, Kisii University.
3. Dr. Milton Owuor, Founder Director and Chairman, Centre for International Criminal Justice (Africa).

Class of 1995

1. Prof. Migai Akech, Governance Expert for the African Peer Review Mechanism Continental Secretariat (South Africa) and Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Prof. Pamela Andanda, Professor of Law, Oliver Schreiner School of Law, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa.
3. Prof. Michael Wabwile, Associate Professor and Founding Dean, Faculty of Law, Egerton University; Elected Member of the Advocates Disciplinary Tribunal; and Board Member of the Kenya School of Law.
4. Dr. Hazel Mukuna, Attorney, Texas, USA.
5. Dr. Marisella Ouma, Head of Legal Services, Central Bank of Kenya.

Class of 1996

1. Prof. Edwin Abuya, Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Nairobi and former Lecturer of Ulster University, UK.
2. Justice (Prof.) Joel Ngugi, Judge of the High Court of Kenya and Affiliate Professor of Law, School of Law, University of Washington, USA.
3. Dr. Linda Musumba, Founding Dean of the Kenyatta University School of Law and Chair of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis.
4. Dr. Wanjiru Njoya, Senior Lecturer, Law School, University of Exeter, UK.
5. Prof. Sylvia Kang’ara, Founding Dean of Riara Law School; Visiting Faculty of Strathmore Law School; and Affiliate Professor of Law, School of Law, University of Washington, USA.
6. Dr. Anthony Wambugu Munene, Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Department of Legal Clinics and Commercial Law, School of Law, Moi University.
7. Prof. Kiarie Mwaura, Professor of Law and Dean, School of Law, University of Nairobi; former Vice Chancellor of Riara University; and former Lecturer of Queen’s University Belfast, UK.

Class of 1997

1. Dr. Njaramba Gichuki, Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Postgraduate Studies Committee, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Ekuru Aukot, Party Leader, Thirdway Alliance and former Director of the Committee of Experts on Constitutional Review.
3. Dr. Korir Sing’oei, Head of Law and Policy, Office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.
4. Dr. Johnson Okello, Director of Legal Services, Senate of the Republic of Kenya.
5. Dr. Jane Wathuta, Academic Director, Strathmore Law School.
6. Dr. Waruguru Kaguongo, Board Member of the International Centre for Not for Profit Law (USA) and former research fellow for the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association.

 

 

Class of 1998

1. Prof. Attiya Waris, Associate Professor of Fiscal Law and Policy; Director of Research and Enterprise; Ag. Deputy Principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Collins Odote, Director, Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP), University of Nairobi.

Class of 1999

Dr. Rosalind Macharia, Legal and Security Analyst.

Class of 2001

1. Dr. Elizabeth Gachenga, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and Student Affairs), Strathmore University.
2. Dr. Jennifer Gitahi, Lecturer, Strathmore Law School.

Class of 2002

1. Dr. Sarah Kinyanjui, Senior Lecturer and Director, Mombasa Campus, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Faith Kabata, Dean, School of Law, Kenyatta University.
3. Prof. Moni Wekesa, founding Dean, School of Law, Daystar University.
4. Dr. George Mukundi, CEO of Maendeleo Group and Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Cape Town.
5. Dr. Lynette Osiemo, Consultant with the International Finance Corporation.
6. Dr. Dan Juma, Team Leader, Governance and Inclusive Growth, UNDP.
7. Dr. Antonina Okuta, Human Rights Officer, UN Mission in South Sudan.
8. Fr. Dr. Mark Muhoro, Chaplain of Kibondeni College.

 

Class of 2003/2004

1. Dr. Ken Obura, Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Examinations Committee, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Peter Mburu, Registrar of Titles, Ministry of Lands and Part Time Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
3. Dr. Mwanakitina Bakari, Lecturer and Coordinator, School of Law (Mombasa Campus), University of Nairobi.
4. Dr. Peter Kwenjera, Dean, Strathmore Law School.
5. Dr. Godfrey Musila, Research Professor, African Centre for Strategic Studies, USA.
6. Dr. Lillian Anne Cherotich, Legal Practitioner, UK.
7. Dr. Humphrey Njuguna, Chairman of the Former Parliamentarians Association, former Member of Parliament for Gatanga Constituency, and Part Time Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
8. Dr. Steve Odero, former Senior Lecturer, School of Law, JKUAT (deceased).

 

Class of 2004

1. Dr. Jackson Bett, Chairman of the Micro and Small Enterprises Tribunal, Senior Lecturer and Student Management Unit (SMU) Manager, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Robert Kibugi, Senior Lecturer and Chair of the ICT Committee, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
3. Dr. Annette Mbogo, Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi and Executive Director of Kituo cha Sheria.
4. Dr. John Ambani, Lecturer, Strathmore Law School.
5. Dr. Tom Kabau, Lecturer, School of Law, JKUAT.
6. Dr. Victor Lando Ogwang, Lecturer, Riara Law School.

Class of 2005

1. Dr. Nkatha Kabira, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi and Iso Lomso Fellow, Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Studies, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
2. Dr. Agnes Meroka, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
3. Dr. Mary Kimari-Wambugu, Adjunct Lecturer, Kenya School of Law.
4. Dr. Gideon Muchiri, UNHCR, Pretoria.
5. Dr. Muthomi Thiankolu, Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
6. Hon. (Dr.) Irungu Kang’ata, Senate Majority Chief Whip; Senator for Murang’a County; and former Member of Parliament for Kiharu Constituency.

Class of 2006

1. Dr. Evelyne Asaala, Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Sarah Ombija, Regulatory Researcher for Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance.
3. Dr. Davidson Mghanga Mwaisaka, Head of Legal Kenya and East Africa at the Standard Chartered Bank; Council Member of the Technical University of Mombasa; Board member of the Technical and Vocational Education Training Authority (TVETA); and past Board member of the Media Council of Kenya.

Class of 2007

1. Dr. Nicholas Wasonga Orago, Marie Curie Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Eric Kibet, Senior Lecturer, Chandaria School of Business, USIU.
3. Dr. Elizabeth Kamundia, Assistant Director, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

 

Class of 2008

1. Dr. Seth Wekesa, Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. Maxwell Miyawa, Partner, Miyawa Maxwell & Co. Advocates.
3. Dr. Jeremmy Okonjo, Lecturer, Kent Law School, University of Kent and Research Associate at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) of Queen Mary University of London.

Class of 2009

1. Dr. Paul Ogendi, Lecturer, School of Law, University of Nairobi.
2. Dr. John Joseph Wamwara, Lecturer, School of Law, Moi University.
3. Dr. Elizabeth Mokeira, Lecturer, Strathmore Business School.

Class of 2010

Dr. Francis Kariuki, Lecturer, Strathmore Law School.

 

Total: 124

 

[1] The award also goes to the post-doctoral scholars of the University of Nairobi’s School of Law who are not on the list, but have attained PhDs. We encourage them to register as alumni by sending their details to deanlaw@uonbi.ac.ke. The School will update the list on a regular basis and place it on its website.