NANCY BARAZA
| YEAR OF BIRTH | 1957 |
| GENDER | FEMALE |
| OCCUPATION | SENIOR LECTURER, UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI |
Nancy Baraza is a Kenyan legal practitioner who served as Kenya’s first female Deputy Chief Justice under the new 2010 constitution.
She was among the first members of the Supreme Court after the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
Early Life and Education
Nancy Baraza was born in 1957 in Bungoma. She attended Lugulu Girls’ High School for her ‘O’ levels before proceeding to pursue further studies.
The now accomplished legal mind in Kenya holds a Doctorate degree in Law from the University of Nairobi.
Her PhD thesis sparked controversy as her research was on the championing of gay rights.
During her vetting, she was on a hot seat after religious leaders questioned her research.
“My thesis on the rights of gays in Kenya was informed by the fact that health services were nonexistent for gay,” she explained.
Career Background of Nancy Baraza
In 2011, following the promulgation of the 2010 constitution. She was appointed as the first Deputy Chief Justice and Vice President of the Supreme Court.
She was previously serving in the Kenya Law Reform Commission where she was appointed in 2008 for a term of three years, serving as a Vice Chairperson until her appointment as the deputy Chief Justice.
Nancy Baraza is also the former Chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers of Kenya (FIDA), a group that strongly champions the rights of women and children.
In 2010, she was elected chairperson of the Media Council of Kenya’s Ethics and Complaints Commission.
Also Read: Smokin Wanjala Profile: Age, Education, Career, Family
Baraza also served in the Yash Pal Ghai’s original Constitution that played a central role in coming up with the Bomas draft constitution, a document that served as one of the reference drafts for the constitution that was passed in 2010.
After she was removed from the office of Deputy Chief Justice, she started lecturing Law in the University of Nairobi as a lecturer.
Also Read: Mohammed Ibrahim: Age, Education, Career, Family
Nancy Baraza’s Controversy
Nancy Baraza was embroiled in the middle of a village market incident, that led to her removal from the office of Deputy Chief Justice.
It was alleged that Nancy Baraza assaulted a female guard at the Village market entrance gate.
The Judicial Service of Commission formed a sub-committee to investigate the matter.
The committee later recommended her removal from office.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and join our WhatsApp Group for real-time news update
