Faith Odhiambo, the 51st President of Law Society of Kenya (LSK), is the 31st Jurist of the year, having been recognised for advancing the rule of law and inspiring a new generation of legal minds.

Ms Odhiambo, also the second woman to hold the LSK presidency, was recognised during the 2024 Jurist of the Year Award (JOYA) ceremony organised by International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya.

JOYA acknowledges jurists who have consistently, fearlessly and impartially promoted the rule of law and human rights in Kenya during the year.

Receiving the award, Odhiambo said the legal profession tests not only the intellect, but also patience, requires a thick skin, whether it is enduring cross examinations in court or surviving unpleasant encounters in the registry.

“A new dynamic comes into play when you serve in the office that I hold. You become public property, a national asset that everybody has demands and expectations on. And Kenyans are good at asking for more. And yet despite these challenges, some of which are more of opportunities, we remain committed to this noble calling,” she said.

She said every brief they handle, argument they make, case they win or lose, and every cry for help they answer is a brick in the larger edifice of justice.

As the LSK president, she said she has had the privilege of seeing firsthand the critical role lawyers play in safeguarding the rule of law.

“This is a community award and support, I start with my husband… You know, sometimes I see people asking on Twitter, how was she rescuing people or what was she doing at that time? When I would get distress calls and I’m alone and scared, my co-partner would take me to those places because we didn’t know what would happen or if it was a false alarm. So this one is for him and my mum, who is present here,” she said.

ICJ-Kenya Chairperson, Protas Saende said Kenya has had a turbulent year filled with political oppression and heinous human rights violations.

This, he said, presented through disproportionate use of force during protests, arbitrary arrests, abductions, femicide and disregard of court orders by the political class while Civil Society Organisations faced intimidation amid execution of their mandate, as watch dogs for human rights accountability.

He said the Judiciary, Civil Society Organisations, human rights defenders, and other legal stakeholders remain a source of hope for the many millions of Kenyans who are unable to defend their rights in the face of injustice.

Saende also stated that jurists have taken the lead in promoting constitutionalism by making sure that the ideals and principles of the constitution are reflected in governance, with legal professionals continually influencing foundation of the country’s democracy by opposing unlawful government decisions and actions and by rendering progressive decisions that uphold constitutionalism and the rule of law.

“Whether through the undermining of court decisions, the concentration of power in the hands of a few select individuals, the erosion of public trust in public institutions, or the embezzlement of public resources, we face a reality in which democracy and the rule of law are even more at risk,” Saende said.