Philomena Mbete Mwilu was born on 15 April 1957 and is a Kenyan lawyer and judge, who has served as the Deputy Chief Justice of Kenya and Vice President of the Supreme Court of Kenya since 28 October 2016.
11 Facts About Philomena Mwilu
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Philomena Mwilu was born on 15 April 1957 in the present day Makueni County, Kaiti division, Kilala location.
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Philomena Mwilu is a spouse to Amos Wako, former attorney general and senator for Busia County.
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Philomena Mwilu then proceeded to study law at the University of Nairobi, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws.
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Philomena Mwilu returned to the University of Nairobi for a Master of Laws Degree, graduating in 2018.
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Philomena Mwilu was appointed a High Court judge in 2008, first serving in the Commercial Court Division in Nairobi.
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Philomena Mwilu was then moved to the High Court in Eldoret.
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Philomena Mwilu was appointed the head of the Environment and Land Division of the High Court in January 2012.
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Lady Justice Mwilu was one of the judges who heard the 2017 presidential election petition, joining Chief Justice David Maraga as well as associate Justices Smokin Wanjala and Isaac Lenaola in nullifying President Kenyatta's win.
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When Chief Justice David Maraga went into mandatory retirement on 11 January 2021 on attaining the age of 70 as provided under Kenya's Constitution, Philomena Mwilu took over the leadership of the Judiciary as the Acting Chief Justice pending the recruitment of a substantive Chief Justice to replace Maraga.
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Philomena Mwilu took office despite a case which was filed by an activist who argued that she should not be named the Acting Chief Justice while she was facing a court case on abuse of office and corruption.