Kenyan High Court Judge Mumbi Ngugi to Receive Prestigious Award in the US

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s Center for International Human Rights (CIHR) is set to award Kenyan High Court judge, Mumbi Ngugi with its fifth Global Jurist of the Year Award.

Ngugi, who serves in the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the High Court, will receive the award during a webinar on February 16th, 2021.

The Global Jurist of the Year Award is bestowed upon a sitting judge who has demonstrated in his or her career courage in the face of adversity to uphold and defend fundamental human rights or the principles of international criminal justice. 

Commenting about why Justice Ngugi was chosen to receive the prestigious award, CIHR interim director Thomas F. Geraghty, said: “It is important that we bring to our University community distinguished practitioners and scholars who not only speak and write, but those who courageously work to implement human rights on the front lines.” 

He added: “Without them, little progress would be made in implementing human rights protections. She is a role model for our faculty and for students who aspire to be future Justice Ngugis.”

Justice Ngugi is a long-time advocate of human rights in Kenya and has been involved in advocacy work for the rights of women, children, and persons with albinism in Kenya. 

She holds a bachelor of law degree (LLB) from the University of Nairobi and a master of law (LLM) in commercial and corporate law from the London School of Economics, University of London.