23 Facts About Martha Koome

Martha Koome attended Our Lady Consolata Mugoiri Girls High School in Murang'a County.

Martha Koome enrolled at Kenya School of Law the following year.

Martha Koome began her legal career as a legal associate at Mathenge and Muchemi Advocates, and later started a law firm, working as a managing partner until 2003.

Martha Koome served as the inaugural treasurer of the East Africa Law Society between 1994 and 1996.

Martha Koome has served as chairperson of FIDA, one of the leading human rights organizations in the country.

Martha Koome has distinguished herself as a defender of human and gender rights.

Martha Koome was one of the lawyers who actively participated in the clamor for the repeal of section 2A of the Constitution of Kenya and for the independence of the judiciary.

Martha Koome is an acclaimed expert in family law and she takes a keen interest in the welfare of children.

Martha Koome was a runner-up in the 2020 United Nations person of the year.

Martha Koome has served as the chairperson of the National Council on the Administration of Justice special taskforce on children matters where she helped steer the review of the Children's Act.

Martha Koome was appointed Judge of the Court of Appeal in January 2012.

Martha Koome was among 13 candidates who applied for appointment to replace David Maraga when he retired in January 2021.

Martha Koome was shortlisted for the position, and attended her public interview on 14 April 2021.

Martha Koome participated in the campaign for the repeal of section 2A of the Kenyan constitution which converted Kenya into a multi-party state.

Martha Koome was the African Union Commissioner to the African committee on the rights and welfare of children.

In May 2021, the president of the LSK, Nelson Havi, told off Martha Koome and demanded she be transparent and accountable for her actions in the mentioned memoranda, by vowing not to apologize for the evidence-backed memoranda.

Martha Koome's suitability was challenged by Khelef Khalifa who questioned the manner in which she took part in a Court of Appeal sitting that reversed a judgment of the High Court that had declared that all returning officers who had been retained by the IEBC to manage the repeat presidential election on 26 October 2017 had been unlawfully appointed.

Once the High Court delivered the judgment holding that the returning officers were in office illegally, the IEBC somehow managed to file an appeal at the Court of Appeal which was closed due to the public holiday, and Martha Koome appeared alongside two other judges of the Court of Appeal to handle the matter.

Martha Koome's name was transmitted to the president, who sent it to Parliament for vetting and approval before her formal appointment.

Martha Koome took her oath of office at State House, Nairobi, on 21 May 2021.

Martha Koome assumed office on Monday, 24 May 2021, in an Assumption of Office ceremony at the Supreme Court Building during which Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu handed over the instruments of power to the new chief justice.

Martha Koome presided over the launch and commissioning of the Nairobi Land Justice Working Group which is tasked with Expediting Land Justice through a People Centered Approach.

Martha Koome is married to Martha Koome Kiragu and has three children.