Judy Thongori, renowned family lawyer, dies
Family Lawyer Judy Thongori during an interview at her office in Westlands.
Renowned family lawyer and rights activist Judy Thongori has died in India.
A statement from the Senior Counsel Bar (SCB) said Ms Thongori had recently taken ill and was flown to India for emergency treatment.
“Sadly, she died yesterday (Tuesday, January 14) evening due to ensuing medical complications,” the chair of SCB Dr Fred Ojiambo said.
Dr Ojiambo said Ms Thongori had an established and strong reputation as an accomplished and astute family law practitioner for more than 30 years.
“She was well known as a selfless and assiduous contributor to that strand of the law. Her willingness and selflessness to be of service to the Senior Counsel Bar, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) as a mentor to younger advocates, will be greatly missed. She was also a favourite speaker at the Annual Judge's’ colloquial,” he said.
He said her selflessness and willingness to serve the SCB and LSK as a mentor will be greatly missed,” he said.
LSK president Faith Odhiambo confirmed her passing saying the legal fraternity had lost a distinguished member and a beacon of excellence.
“Judy Thongori SC has been a monument of legal prowess and exemplified all the qualities of a professional North Star. Her noteworthy contributions to family law and human rights are timeless and continue to propagate a learning curve for many in the profession," Ms Odhiambo said.
She said the legacy she leaves behind will remain an indelible mark of her impact that lives on among us.
Ms Thongori joined the Bar in 1988 and established herself as a family lawyer based in Nairobi.
She has represented members of bigshots in the country in succession disputes including the former spymaster James Kanyotu and ex-Equity Bank chief executive officer John Mwangi Kagema.
Ms Thongori was conferred the rank of Senior Counsel on July 20, 2020, as part of the third cohort of senior counsel bar and was also the first woman to be inducted into the Roll of Honour of the Law Society of Kenya in 2013.
The lawyer was also accredited to the Mediation Accreditation Committee of the Judiciary and was part of the Chief Justice’s committee to set up the Family Division in the High Court and has been a member of the Bar-Bench committee.
