The Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), will announce its 2019 Jurist of the year on Wednesday.
“The 2019 Jurist of the year has been recognized locally, regionally and internationally for dedication to upholding democracy, justice and the rule of law and will be unveiled at the 2019 JOY Award ceremony,” says the ICJ Kenya, a non-governmental organisation, a National Section of the International Commission of Jurists.
The annual award was introduced in 1993, principally to acknowledge and honor the contributions of an exceptional Jurist who has worked selflessly and courageously towards the promotion and protection of human rights, justice, rule of law and good governance in Kenya and to commemorate the International Human Rights Day.
The Jurist of the Year Award is an annual award that seeks to acknowledge, recognize, and encourage outstanding jurists who have consistently, fearlessly and impartially contributed to the promotion of the #RuleofLaw and #HumanRights in Kenya during the year #JOYAward2019 pic.twitter.com/kdhsDY3tS2
— ICJ Kenya (@ICJKenya) November 28, 2019
In 2018, High Court Judge Justice George Vincent Odunga won the award while Kenyan Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court, David Maraga was named the Jurist of the year 2017.
The late human rights lawyer Willie Kimani was posthumously named the 2016 Jurist of the Year in recognition of his work after he paid the ultimate price while defending human rights.
Other previous winners include Senior Counsel Paul Muite, Justice Mumbi Ngugi and Hon. Martha Karua. Others who have also won the award are former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Prof Yash Pal Ghai, Hon. James Orengo, Mr. Pheroze Nowrojee Prof. Kivutha Kibwana, Mr. Lawrence Mute and Mr. Nzamba Kitonga amongst others.
This year’s Human Rights Day is themed ‘Youth Standing Up for Human Rights’, according to the United Nations, under its universal call to action “Stand Up for Human rights, “We aim to celebrate the potential of youth as constructive agents of change, amplify their voices, and engage a broad range of global audiences in the promotion and protection of rights.”
The campaign will be led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), designed to encourage, galvanise, and showcase how youth all over the world stand up for rights and against racism, hate speech, bullying, discrimination, and climate change.
