 Breaking barriersVictoria Miyandazi Chapter 7 in Elgar Companion to Female Chief Justices in Comparative Perspective, 2026, pp 151-172 from Edward Elgar Publishing Abstract: This chapter explores the trailblazing journey of Martha Koome, Kenya's first female Chief Justice. It contextualises her rise within a patriarchal society and traces her three-decade legal career as a human rights advocate, judge, and key contributor to constitutional reforms. As Chief Justice, Koome has advanced access to justice for marginalised communities through her Social Transformation through Access to Justice (‘STAJ’) agenda, promoting judicial efficiency, innovation, and staff welfare. The chapter analyses her leadership style – balancing collaboration with political actors and maintaining judicial independence – while also critically engaging with her jurisprudence in landmark cases, including electoral disputes and constitutional amendments. It addresses challenges faced under her leadership, such as corruption and public scepticism, and considers the risks of her collaborative approach in a politically turbulent environment. Despite these hurdles, the chapter ultimately portrays Koome as a transformative constitutional heroine whose impact isn’t measured by perfection but by significant strides made. Keywords: Judicial Leadership; Gender and Justice; Martha Koome; Kenyan Judiciary; Judicial Independence; Access to Justice (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:elg:eechap:22158_7 Ordering information: This item can be ordered from Access Statistics for this chapter More chapters in Chapters from Edward Elgar Publishing |
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