C U R R I C U L U M V I T A E

PERSONAL DETAILS
NAME: HONOURABLE LADY JUSTICE MARTHA KOOME
ADDRESS: P. O. BOX 61, NAKURU, Kenya
TELEPHONE: 254-724204104 Email: martha_koome@yahoo.com
DATE OF BIRTH: JUNE 3RD 1960
NATIONALITY: KENYAN

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
Kenya Women Judges Association, Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association, The Commonwealth Judges and Magistrates Association, Federation of Kenya Women Lawyers, East Africa Law Society (First Treasurer) Kenya Women Finance Trust (Secretary 1992-1996) Law Society of Kenya (Council member 1993-1995) League of Kenya Women Voters and The Institute of Certified Public Secretaries.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS
Lady Justice Koome has a strong background and vast experience both as a legal practitioner and as a Judge of the High Court. She began her legal career in legal practice and succeeded in running one of the most successful women law firms with a clientele that included Public Sector Companies, Non Government Organizations, Insurance firms and Commercial Banks. In private practice Lady Justice Koome also distinguished herself as a defender of Human Rights concentrating specifically on Gender Rights.

She represented political detainees, persons charged with politically instigated offences. She successfully represented women in precedent setting cases all the way to the Court of Appeal particularly in family law and was one of the leading lawyers in this area. Her firm understanding of issues of gender equality and human rights has seen her represent Kenya in several international forums, legal reform forums and as a Kenya Government delegate at Regional and International associations Forums.

As the Chair Person of the federation of Kenya Women Lawyers where she was the chair for four years, Lady Justice Koome was instrumental in determining FIDA-[KENYA’S] strategic direction and the Association was recognized as a leading Women’s Rights Advocates. Judge Koome also has experience in legal drafting and was instrumental in the drafting of the Children’s Bill the Equality Bill, Family Protection and domestic Violence Bill, and the Gender Commission among others.

Lady Justice Koome is currently the Resident Judge in Nakuru and her jurisdiction extends over the entire Rift Valley Province including the courts in Naivasha, Nyahururu, Malalal, Molo, Kericho, Kilgoris, Narok, Sotik and Bomet. Her work includes the determination of criminal, civil and family matters as well as the administration of the courts in the entire Rift Valley Province. Lady Justice Koome is currently the Chairperson of the ANPPCAN and also a representative of the Government of Kenya to the African Union in the Committee for the Rights of the Child.

EDUCATION
1986-1988: Diploma in Legal Studies, Kenya School of Law 1983-1986: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) University of Nairobi

EMPLOYMENT RECORD
Jan 2006 - To date Resident Judge, Nakuru Law Courts May 2003–Jan 2006 Judge of the High Court of Kenya based at the Family Division of the High Court Jan 1988- April 2003 Martha Koome & Company Advocates

WORK EXPEREINCE
Resident Judge Nakuru Law Courts:
Lady Justice Koome is currently responsible for the administration of all the courts in the Rift Valley province. She is also responsible for delivering justice in the areas of civil, criminal and matrimonial and commercial cases. As resident judge her responsibilities include administration, liaison with other court officials and management of staff and court property.

Her commitment to access to justice has seen her start a Users Committee in the Region that allows a forum for Stakeholders to make contributions on how best the Judiciary can be more efficient and accessible especially to the vulnerable members of the public.

Judge of the High Court of Kenya May 2003 – To date:
While working in the Family Division of the High Court Justice Koome developed simplified procedures by way of providing checklist and a bench book on the simplified procedures in Family law. She handled all family disputes which included matters of children, succession and family law. While serving in this Division pronounced several precedent setting decisions in succession law and landmark cases in the protection of Children’s Rights.

Martha Koome & Advocates:
As the sole proprietor of the firm, Justice Koome built a Law Firm with a portfolio of impressive clients in a wide range of sectors including leading commercial banks and insurance firms.

Justice Koome was responsible for the legal proceedings, representation of clients and managing of the firm’s fifteen employees including four professionals. Judge Koome was successful in negotiating lucrative legal contracts and was successful in representing her clients in a diverse range of areas including commercial disputes, civil cases and public interest cases.

The firm gained a reputation as one of the leading firms in representation of matrimonial and family law cases. Judge Koome’s commitment to the community service can be attested by the number of clients her firm offered pro-bono legal services, especially to the economically disadvantaged victims of human rights abuses specifically women and children

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES ANPPCAN
Chair of the Board: Provides leadership, to the Kenyan Chapter of the African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect. The Centre facilitates the promotion, defence and advocacy for the Children’s Rights as set out in the United Nations Convention on Rights of the child. The African Charter on the rights and welfare of the child, the Children Act and the Sexual offences Act.

African Union Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child:
Our Mandate is to oversee the implementation of the Charter by the State Parties

Federation of Kenya Women Lawyers – Chairperson:
Federation of Kenya Women Lawyers is a non governmental organization in Kenya that focuses on advocating on the rights of women and provides free legal services for women that can not afford access to these services. During Martha’s tenure as chair she was instrumental in the organizations reputation as one of the leading human rights organization and leading it in the struggle for the promotion of Human Rights. As chair Martha represented the organization and made presentations at several forums including Commission on the Status of Women.

RELEVANT TRAINING AND CONFERENCES ATTENDED
September 2006
Commonwealth Judges Association: Lady Justice Koome was part of the Kenyan delegation and presented a paper on the nexus between Kenya Sexual Offences bill and women’s matrimonial rights

March 2005
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women: Lady Justice Koome was head of the Kenyan delegation and actively involved in the writing of the report and in the review of the Millennium Development Goals.

January 2003
Commission on the Eradication of Violence against Women: Lady Justice Koome was among the Kenya Government Delegation that represented the Kenya Government and made a report on the implementation of the CEDAW before the CEDAW Committee.

March 1997
Monitoring and Evaluation of the Human Rights Violations: Lady Justice Koome attended a short monitoring and Evaluation course on gender mainstreaming using the United Nations Convention and Treaties as Bench Marks.

July 1996
Dealing with Children who are Victims of Domestic Violence , UK October 1990 Independence of the Judiciary and its role in the Protection of the Rule of Law: A six Weeks course organized by the US Government under the Visitors Programme.

PUBLICATIONS
• Women’s Guide to Law (Conducted Research on behalf of FIDA Kenya1988)
• Women and Democracy in Kenya, League of Kenya Women Voters
• FIDA –Kenya’s Annual Report (Contributed on the Chapter on the implementation f the CRC and the Children’s Act 2001)
• Several Papers on the Property Rights of Women
• The Bench Book on the Family Law

REFERENCES
The Hon. Mr. Justice J. B. Ojwang
Judges’ Chambers High Court of Kenya
P. O. Box 30041 – OO1OO
NAIROBI
Tel: 020-221221
email: jbojwang@wananchi.com

Florence Simbiri Jaoko
Commissioner Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
P. O. Box 74359-00200
NAIROBI
Tel. 020-2717908/2717928/2717256/2712664 Cell: 0733-905643
email: fsimbiri-jaoko@knchr.org

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