Lady Justice Lydia Achode, also known as Hon. Lady Justice Lydia Awino Achode, is a Judge of the Court of Appeal who served as the first female Principal Judge of the High Court from the year 2018 to 2022.
Justice Lydia Achode has built her judicial expertise through 35+ years of practical judicial experience rather than additional academic qualifications, advancing from District Magistrate II to Court of Appeal Judge.
Justice Lydia Achode’s Education and Early Career
Lydia earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi in 1985 and completed her Post-Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law in 1986.
Justice Achode began her judicial career in 1986 as a District Magistrate II at the Kericho Law Courts, which was the beginning of her rise through the ranks in the Judiciary
Over the years, Justice Lydia Achode served in various roles across the country, including:
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- Resident Magistrate (1988–1994)
- Senior Resident Magistrate (1994–2000)
- Principal Magistrate (2000–2004)
- Senior Principal Magistrate (2004)
- Chief Court Administrator (2004–2008)
- Registrar of the High Court (2008–2011)
High Court Judge and Her Principal Leadership
On September 6, 2011, Justice Achode was appointed as a Judge of the High Court; before her appointment as a judge, she served as the Registrar of the High Court and the Accounting Officer for the Judiciary.
In 2016, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga appointed her as Deputy Judge of the newly created Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division.
In April 2018, other High Court judges elected Justice Lydia Achode as Principal Judge of the High Court through an election conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Justice Lydia served as Principal Judge of the High Court from 2018 to 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
During her time as Principal Judge, Justice Lydia launched various initiatives, including communication campaigns on succession matters and championed automation and technology in service delivery.
Court of Appeal Judge
On July 19, 2022, former President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Justice Lydia Achode to the Court of Appeal, along with seven other judges confirmed following interviews conducted by the Judicial Service Commission. (JSC)
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Achievements and Awards
Justice Achode has handled cases in civil and criminal law, commercial litigation, taxation, gender, and family law. Some of her significant rulings include:
- FGM Ban Ruling (2021): In a landmark case, Justice Achode upheld Kenya’s ban on female genital mutilation, stating, “We find that limiting this right is reasonable in an open and democratic society, based on the dignity of women”
- Environmental Conservation Case: Justice Lydia Achode played an important role in a ruling favoring Lavington residents against a proposed 16-story apartment project, emphasizing environmental conservation and zoning regulations
- Safe Abortion Rules (2019): Achode was part of a five-judge bench that restored rules on safe abortion
- Health Laws Appeal (2025): Justice Lydia participated in hearing appeals regarding the cancellation of health laws, including the Social Health Insurance Fund Act
In November 2022, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) awarded her as the Best Performing Judge of the Year at an event at the Panari Hotel in Nairobi.
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