Judges of the Employment and Labour Relations Court have elected Justice Monica Mbaru as the new Principal Judge of the Court. She succeeds Justice Byram Ongaya, who was recently elevated to the Court of Appeal.
Justice Mbaru, currently the Presiding Judge in Mombasa, was elected unopposed. The position of Principal Judge carries a five-year term, renewable once.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Pretoria. Justice Mbaru is currently pursuing a Doctor of Laws (LLD) at the University of Nairobi, where her research focuses on disability and the law.
Before joining the bench, Justice Mbaru practised law with a strong focus on social justice, human rights, and the protection of minority and marginalised groups, including women and persons with disabilities.
She has previously worked with several organisations, including the Hivos Foundation in East Africa, the International Commission of Jurists (Kenya Chapter), Kituo Cha Sheria (Legal Aid Centre), and the Legal Resources Foundation. In these roles, she contributed to legal aid programmes, paralegal training, and community outreach initiatives.
Justice Mbaru has also served as a consultant with the Secretariat of the African Decade for Persons with Disabilities, where she supported the development of policy and legal frameworks in collaboration with the African Union and the East African Community.
In addition, she participated in the development of the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10, adopted in Geneva in 2017. She is a member of the African Judges Forum and the Africa Judges and Jurists Forum.
By Anthony Solly
