History was made after President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday appointed Martha Koome to become the first female Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya.

Koome’s appointment by the president followed the approval of her nomination by the National Assembly earlier Wednesday.

The Lady Justice boasts of an experience of 33 years in the legal profession and was picked top among the 10 applicants interviewed to succeed retired Chief Justice David Maraga.

She pursued her law degree at the University of Nairobi and graduated in 1986 then proceeding to the Kenya School of Law the year after.

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Martha Koome. PHOTO/COURTESY

Koome established her private legal practice in 1988 before joining the Judiciary in 2003 and worked in various stations and also served as Law Society of Kenya (LSK) council member.

The mother of three completed her Master’s degree (LL.M) in Public International Law at the University of London in 2010.

She was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 2011 and in September of the same year she was elected the Chairperson of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association.

Martha Koome. PHOTO/COURTESY

Koome has been renowned for championing for the welfare of women and children and served as the Chairperson of the National Council on the Administration of Justice special taskforce on children and helped steer amendments to the Children’s Act.

Due to her role in championing the rights and welfare of children, she last year emerged the runner-up for the 2020 UN in Kenya Person of the Year.