Lawyer Majiwa, Justice Achode face JSC in DCJ interviews

Lawyer Joyce Miguda Majiwa and Lady Justice Lydia Awino Achode are facing the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) as the search for Deputy Chief Justice entered day three Wednesday, September 28.

Lawyer Majiwa is a founder member and Chair Person of the Institute for Education in Democracy. Prior to becoming the Chairperson, she served in the Board of Directors of the institute.

Majiwa is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya with twenty years experience in legal practice. In addition, she also has 20 years experience in the civil society having served several organizations in various capacities.

Majiwa has provided leadership as the Chairperson of the Federation of Women Lawyers (Kenya FIDA K), the National Vice Chairperson and Founder-member, the League of Kenya Women Voters, delegate to the National Constitution Conference in Kenya and the Convener of the Transitional and Consequential Arrangements Committee as well as the First Vice-Chairperson, Law Society Standing Committee on Constitutional Review.

She is a Legal advisor to several national and regional civil society organizations. She has served in the boards of at least five major organizations.

Majiwa was awarded the National award of the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya in recognition for work her in Development and Human Rights in December, 2006 and was conferred with the rank of Senior Counsel in recognition of exemplary service to the legal and public service in Kenya in December 2012.

She has a law degree from University of Nairobi, Post Graduate Diploma in Gender and Development Studies from University of Nairobi and Masters in Human Rights from University of Pretoria.

Justice Lydia Achode was born in 1962.

On 26th January, 2016, Justice Achode was appointed by former Chief Justice, Dr Willy Mutunga, as the deputy judge of the anti-corruption and economic crimes division of the High Court. The division was established on December 11, 2015.

On September 6, 2011, Justice Achode was appointed to the bench as a Judge of the High Court. Prior to her appointment to the Bench, she was the Registrar of the High Court of Kenya.

Prior to this, she had been the Chief Court Administrator having been appointed to that position in the year 2004.

She began her career on the bench as a District Magistrate II (Prof) at the Kericho Law Courts in 1986 and was promoted two years later to the post of Resident Magistrate.

Justice Achode is experienced in the areas of Civil and Criminal Law and Procedure, Commercial Litigation, Taxation Law, as well as Gender and Family Law having routinely adjudicated on these areas of law as a Magistrate for a period spanning over twenty years.

Justice Achode is married with four children.