Teresia Wavinya Nicholas, popularly known as Tess, is a prominent Kenyan legal professional and advocate of the High Court.
She is currently a candidate for the position of Vice President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) for the 2026-2028 term.
In legal circles, Wavinya is often referred to by the monikers “Mama Welfare” and “Mama RAT,” a name she acquired due to her focus on results and accountability.
Early Life and Career Background
Her early career began with a strong commitment to human rights and civil justice:
She served as a legal intern at Awareness Against Human Trafficking (HAART Kenya) in 2016, where she worked on the rescue and rehabilitation of trafficking victims.
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Before establishing her own practice, Tess worked as a legal consultant for organisations like Microjustice4All and Haki Mashinani, focusing on legal aid for marginalised groups.
She is a native speaker of Kamba and Kiswahili and possesses professional proficiency in English and elementary proficiency in French.
Teresia earned her law degree from Moi University between 2010 and 2015, during which she also gained practical experience as a legal trainee at the Machakos Law Courts.
To qualify for admission to the bar, she attended the Kenya School of Law between 2016 and 2017, graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma in Law.
In January 2020, the lawyer received professional certification as a Legal Auditor from the Kenya School of Law.
She has pursued continuous professional development, including advanced training in Legislative Drafting at the Kenya School of Law, which she completed in 2024.
Teresia Wavinya Nicholas Career
Teresia Wavinya Nicholas has built a high-impact career by bridging the gap among government advisory work, private practice, and legal activism.
She currently serves as the lead legal advisor to the Governor of Machakos County, where she spearheads legislative drafting, policy formulation, and ensures the county executive remains compliant with national laws.
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As a member of the national governing council, she serves as the Convener of the Litigation Committee Council at the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), where she has been a fierce advocate for the welfare of young advocates and the digitalisation of LSK services.
She leads her own firm, Teresia Wavinya & Company Advocates, as the Managing Partner, where she specialises in civil litigation, family law, and corporate compliance.
Wavinya has worked with international and local NGOs as a Legal Consultant, including Microjustice4All and Haki Mashinani, providing legal aid to marginalised communities.
Major Achievements
As a leader in the LSK Rapid Action Team (RAT), she has led numerous operations to arrest and prosecute fake lawyers who exploit the public in what was dubbed “the Masquerader Crackdown.”
The LSK Vice President candidate successfully lobbied for and helped organise the clearing of a six-year backlog of stagnant court dates at the Milimani Commercial Court.
Early in her career, she worked with HAART Kenya, facilitating the rescue and legal rehabilitation of over 20 human trafficking victims.
The advocate played a pivotal role in securing $124,000 in funding for Public Interest Litigation to challenge controversial national finance policies.
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