Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola was on December 11, named the jurist of the year by the International Commission of Jurists Kenya (ICJ-Kenya).
In a report by the Daily Nation, the 52-year-old judge was described as a calm, fair, and wise member of the Judiciary who helped uphold human values.
The ICJ-Kenya appreciated Lenaola for consistently, fearlessly and impartially espousing values and ideals that have immensely contributed to the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law, justice and democracy in Kenya and the African region.
While receiving the award, Justice Lenaola urged Kenyans to take it upon themselves in the fight against corruption, where he claimed that the vice has continued affecting Kenyans.
Lenaola didn’t get shy away from pointing out that the recent war between the Judiciary and the Executive, advising that the courts would function better if funding was adequate.
"It's time we took the fight against graft seriously and we must give the Judiciary tools to fight it as a country," remarked Lenaola as quoted by Daily Nation.
Lenaola further thanked his colleagues, describing them as a force to be reckoned with.
The calm jurist didn’t bypass his wife’s role that helped his rise, showering her with utmost praise.
"This lady has been my pillar and my rock for the last 21 years. She has suffered my absence many times while I am away on duty," commented Justice Lenaola.
On April 15, 2019, he issued a public apology to a convict he had sent to Kamiti Maximum Security Prison for failing to protect his rights.
The convict, Richard Muasya, was born with both male and female organs and had been charged with robbery with violence when Lenaola sent him to prison.
"I personally apologise because I do not feel that I gave the case my best," the judge confessed.
