ZEHRABANU JANMOHAMED
| NAME |
ZEHRABANU JANMOHAMED |
| AGE | N/A |
| GENDER | FEMALE |
| OCCUPATION | LAWYER |
Zehrabanu Janmohamed, also called Jackie, is a prominent Kenyan lawyer and trailblazer in both the legal and sporting worlds.
She was conferred the title of Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of Kenya by Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga in November 2020 and is a member of an elite group of the most experienced and respected legal minds in Kenya.
Janmohamed rose from the ranks to become a partner in 1993 and a senior partner in 2002. The lawyer currently practices in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of Kenya.
Early Life and Educational Background
She grew up in a City Council estate, the Mariakani Flats in South B, Nairobi.
Born to Mohamed Taki Janmohamed and Khurshid Tejani Janmohamed, she was raised in a home where her parents, though not highly educated themselves, her father reached Form Two and her mother Standard 7, prioritized their daughters’ education.
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Janmohamed adopted the name “Jackie” as a child because she was born when Jacqueline Kennedy was internationally famous, and her neighbours began calling her Jacqueline, which eventually shortened to “Jackie”.
At age 17, her father defied tradition and rejected a marriage proposal for her to ensure she could pursue her university studies.
The celebrated law practitioner began her schooling at the Muslim Girls School at just over two years old, completing her primary education there at the age of 12.
She attended Our Lady of Mercy, a Catholic school, to gain a broader educational experience and completed her O-levels.
Later, Janmohamed attended Highway Secondary School, which was predominantly male, being one of only three girls in a school of roughly 1,000 boys.
Jackie moved to the United Kingdom to study at University College London (UCL), where she obtained her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1986 and qualified as a Barrister at Law at Lincoln’s Inn in 1987.
She returned to Kenya in 1988 and joined the law firm Archer & Wilcock as a pupil, where she has practiced for her entire career.
Career Background
She is the court-appointed executor of the multi-billion-shilling estate of the late Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi.
Zehrabanu gained significant public attention for her role in high-stakes legal battles, including representing petitioners in the 2022 Presidential Election Petition at the Supreme Court.
Janmohamed became a Barrister at Law at Lincoln’s Inn in 1987.
Since 1988, she has been serving at Archer & Wilcock, rising to a senior partner of the firm in 2002.
In November 2020, she was conferred with the prestigious title of Senior Counsel by Chief Justice Emeritus David Maraga, making her the first Muslim woman in Kenya to achieve this elite rank.
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Early in her career, she successfully represented the Nation Media Group during the Ouko Commission of Inquiry, leading to a successful prevention of the media house from being barred from the proceedings.
She is the court-appointed Executrix and Trustee of the multi-billion-shilling estate of the late President Daniel arap Moi, a role that involves complex litigation and the distribution of wealth.
In 2022, she gained national attention for her eloquent arguments in the Presidential Election Petition at the Supreme Court of Kenya.
She has served as a non-executive director for major organizations, including the Standard Group PLC, since 2007.
Sports Achievements and Global Leadership
In 2012, she became the first woman in the world to be elected as the Chairperson of a National Cricket Board, Cricket Kenya.
Janmohamed was the first woman to lead the Africa Cricket Association, a position she has held for several years, becoming a continental pioneer.
Jackie was the first woman cricket umpire in Kenya and across East and Central Africa.
Zehrabanu Janmohamed was the first female member of the Sir Ali Muslim Club (SAMC).
In 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta honored her with the Mzalendo Award for her philanthropic work during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she led the distribution of food to over 30,000 vulnerable families.
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