Judy Thongori

Judy Thongori
Thongori in 2015
Bornc. 1965
Died(2025-01-14)14 January 2025
NationalityKenyan
EducationUniversity of Nairobi
SpouseJohn
Childrentwo

Judy Thongori (c. 1965 – 14 January 2025) was a Kenyan lawyer and rights activist. She was a women's rights activist, and she successfully sued the Kenyan government for not delivering 30% representation for women.

Life and career

Thongori was born in about 1965.[1] She was educated at Kahuhia Girls' High School for Ordinary Level (O-Level) and Advanced Level (A-Level).[2]

She graduated from the law school at the University of Nairobi and began an unchallenging job at the Attorney general's office. She left there to join Lee Muthoga and Associates where she felt purposed. She started to build up a private practice and a reputation as an advocate in company law.[2]

Thongori was married to another lawyer, John Thongori, with whom she had two children.[3]

She started her own law company, and she became an advocate for women's rights. She saw that the Kenyan police ignored abuse cases where the woman and family relied on the man's income. She realised that the culture was at fault. She organised training sessions for the police to inform their actions. Thongori spent five years leading an association of women lawyers. She was recognised by the Institute for Inclusive Security and [4] Thongori's highest profile case was when she won a case against the Kenyan government when they failed to deliver 30% representation for women.[5]

In 2015 she was chosen to be one of 21 women who met for a conference at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government funded by Hunt Alternatives. The group included Fauzia Nasreen from Pakistan and Olufunke Baruwa, Esther Ibanga, Hafsat Abiola and Ayisha Osori from Nigeria.[6]

In 2023 she joined a committee to look at the activities of radical religious groups formed by President William Ruto. The committee of seventeen was formed following the discovery of over 170 bodies in the Shakahola Forest. It was said that followers of a church in the Dagoretti Constituency were encouraged to starve themselves to "meet Jesus".[7] Critics said that Ruto had chosen "insiders" to investigate.[8]

Thongori died following a short illness in India, on 14 January 2025.[9][8]

References

  1. ^ Kinyanjui, Maureen (15 January 2025). "Kenya's legal community mourns death of family law pioneer Judy Thongori". The Eastleigh Voice News. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  2. ^ a b Faith Wambura Ngunjiri (23 February 2010). Women's Spiritual Leadership in Africa: Tempered Radicals and Critical Servant Leaders. SUNY Press. pp. 79–82. ISBN 978-1-4384-2978-6.
  3. ^ "Judy Thongori: I derive energy from my husband". The Standard. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  4. ^ "» The Women Waging Peace Network". www.inclusivesecurity.org. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  5. ^ "» President Obama is Traveling to Kenya—Here Are 10 Women He Should Know". www.inclusivesecurity.org. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  6. ^ "17 Women Who Are Changing the World". www.inclusivesecurity.org. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  7. ^ "Ruto: We'll get to the bottom of what happened at Shakahola". The Star. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  8. ^ a b Musau, Nzau. "When President picked insiders to clean up religious sector mess". The Standard. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Judy Thongori, renowned family lawyer, dies". Business Daily. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2025.