Renowned city lawyer Dr John Khaminwa has been recognized for his noble acts of representing clients pro bono and his quest for the rule of law in Kenya.
During the 2021 Kituo Annual Paralegals Awards (KAPA) organized by Kituo cha Sheria, Khaminwa was awarded as the volunteer advocate of the year.
In a statement on Sunday, September 26, Kituo Cha Sheria stated that the veteran lawyer was honoured for his resilience in seeking justice for many Kenyans who could not afford to pay legal fees.
“Dr Khaminwa is a long-time Kenyan human rights activist and attorney who has successfully represented over 1,000 pro bono clients during his almost 60 years of practice,” read the statement.
The human rights activist was also recognized for mentoring law students in Kenya.
“He has made a significant contribution in training pupils to become advocates of the High Court of Kenya."
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, the lawyer stated that he was delighted for the award, stating that he had dedicated his career to seeking justice for those who are not well represented.
“I am happy that they have recognized me for the work that I have done,” Khaminwa stated.
He added that he is motivated to represent clients pro bono out of goodwill and doesn’t keep count of those he represents.
“I have represented so many people in court. Some of them are what we call bad cases. The cases include people who were detained during the Moi regime,” he stated.
The lawyer has also worked with organizations such as the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
In July, the lawyer was hired by the LSK to represent deceased killer cop Caroline Kangogo.
Khaminwa filed a petition in court seeking orders to bar the police from nabbing Kangogo in the event that she surrendered.
However, the officer took her own life before the case could be heard and determined.
