Uhuru Appoints Martha Koome as Kenya's First Female Chief Justice

President Kenyatta has appointed Martha Koome as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya.

Her appointment comes after the National Assembly approved her nomination earlier on Wednesday after the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC), which vetted her last week, found her suitable to hold the position.

Koome makes history as the first woman in Kenya to hold the Chief Justice post since independence.

The 61-year-old was nominated to the position by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), beating nine other candidates who were interviewed.

Koome, who has 33 years of experience in legal practice, replaces David Maraga, who retired early this year.

Until her latest appointment, she served as a judge of the Appeals Court, where she headed the Criminal Division.

Koome was admitted to the bar as an advocate of the High Court in 1986 and practiced law until 2003 when she was appointed as a High Court judge.

Throughout her career, Koome has distinguished herself as a defender of the rights of women and the welfare of children.

She holds a Master of Laws from the University of London (2010), Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi (1986), and Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law (1987).