| NAME | PHILOMENA MBETE MWILU |
| AGE | 68 YEARS |
| GENDER | FEMALE |
| OCCUPATION | DEPUTY CHIEF JUSTICE |
Lady Justice Philomena Mbete Mwilu is the Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) of Kenya and an advocate of the High Court with over 38 years of experience. She was appointed on 28th October 2016 as the 3rd Deputy Chief Justice and Vice President of the Supreme Court of Kenya.
Early Life and Education
Lady Justice Philomena Mwilu was born on April 15th, 1957, in Makueni County, Kaiti division, Kilala location.
Mwilu is married to Amos Wako, who is the former Attorney General of Kenya and the first senator of Busia County.
She attended Alliance Girls High School and joined the University of Nairobi, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
She took the oath and was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 1984. She later joined the University of Nairobi and graduated with a Master of Laws in 2018.
Also Read: DCJ Mwilu Powers Challenged in Gachagua’s Case as Lawyers Clash in Court
Professional Career.
After her admission to the Bar, Mwilu served at several corporate firms, including as a Senior Legal Officer at Jubilee Insurance. She later worked as a Board Secretary at the Electricity Regulatory Board, where she offered legal and policy guidance on energy-sector regulation. Mwilu also served as a Director at the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, where she chaired the Legal and Human Resources Committee.
Mwilu later transitioned fully into the Judiciary, beginning as a Judge of the High Court of Kenya, where she worked across several divisions, including the Commercial, Criminal, and Environment & Land divisions. Her exemplary performance led to her appointment to the Court of Appeal in 2012.
On 28th October 2016, she was appointed as the 3rd Deputy Chief Justice and Vice President of the Supreme Court of Kenya. When the then Chief Justice David Maraga retired on 12th January 2021, Lady Justice Mwilu assumed the Office of Chief Justice and served from 11th January 2021 to 19th May 2021
DCJ Philomena Mwilu was also among the four judges who annulled the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017
On 18th October 2024, DCJ Mwilu appointed a three-judge bench including Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima, and Freda Mugambi to hear the petitions challenging the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as the Deputy President.
Also read: Why CJ Koome Retained Judges Appointed by DCJ Mwilu in Gachagua Case.
Net worth
Although Lady Justice Mwilu’s net worth is not publicly disclosed, she receives a salary of KSh 898,535 and also receives an allowance of KSh 335,000, totaling 1.23 million per month.
Her allowances include house allowance, a non-practicing allowance, and a responsibility allowance for her role as both DCJ and Vice President of the Supreme Court. In addition, the state provides her with a chauffeur-driven official car, fuel, and maintenance. She also enjoys a comprehensive medical cover for herself and her family.
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