Ruto leads Kenyans in mourning the passing of family lawyer Judy Thongori

President William Ruto has led the nation in mourning the passing of renowned family lawyer and rights activist Judy Thongori.
In his condolence message to the family of Thongori, the head of state mourned he as an exceptional advocate and champion of justice whose dedication to family and human rights touched the lives of many people.
He said Thongori has left a lasting impact on society.
“We join the family, friends, and legal fraternity in mourning the loss of Judy Thongori SC, an exceptional advocate and champion for justice. Her dedication to family law and human rights touched many lives and left a lasting impact on our society. Judy’s kindness, wisdom, and service will be deeply missed and remembered,” the president stated.
On his part, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula mourned Judy as an advocate who had distinguished herself as a trailblazer in the practice of Family Law, dedicating her career to not only advancing the jurisprudence of this specialized field but also nurturing the next generation of legal practitioners.
”Her relentless advocacy for women’s rights, her instrumental role in promoting access to justice, and her efforts to enhance women’s participation in governance were hallmarks of her illustrious career. Notably, her legal action challenging the government’s failure to implement the two-thirds gender rule stands as a landmark moment in the pursuit of gender equity in our society,” Wetang’ula said in his condolence message to the deceased family.
“Senior Counsel Thongori’s commitment to justice and equality, her resolute defense of human rights, and her dedication to the rule of law have left an indelible imprint on the legal profession and the nation,” he added.
A statement by the Senior Counsel Bar indicated Thongori had been recently taken ill and was flown to India for specialised treatment.
She died yesterday evening .
SCB Chair Fred Ojiambo mourned Thongori saying she had an established reputation as an accomplishment and astute family lawyer.
“She was well known as a selfless assiduous contributor to that strand law. Her willingness to be of service to SCB and mentor to young advocates at the Law Society of Kenya will be greatly missed,” he said.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo said the fraternity has lost a distinguished member and a beacon of excellence.
“The legal fraternity mourns the loss of a distinguished member and 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,” she said.
Former LSK President Nelson Havi also mourned her death, saying: “A distinguished and respected legal giant in family law, Judy Thongori SC departs, leaving our mobile law library with a whole shelf missing. Death is one such extrajudicial decision in respect of which an appeal, however meritorious, is precluded.”
Thongori, 60, joined the bar in 1988 and established herself as a family lawyer based in Nairobi.
She was conferred the rank of senior counsel in 2020 as part of the third cohort and was the first woman to be inducted into the Roll of Honour of the Law Society of Kenya in 2023.
She was accredited to the Mediation Accreditation 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.