At a time when county governments were riddled with graft, the judicial system was grappling to contain the looming crisis, to salvage its reputation that was at risk of assassination.
It was then that High Court judge Mumbi Ngungi in 2019, singlehandedly spelled doom for governors and public officers facing graft-related charges in her ruling that instructed that elected executives could not continue holding office while simultaneously facing graft charges.
Some of those who were affected by her ruling included former Kiambu governor, Ferdinand Waititu, Samburu governor, Moses Lenolkulal , Busia governor, Sospeter Ojaamong and former Nairobi governor, Mike Mbuvi Sonko, who are all facing graft-related charges.
This marked the beginning of an era, with a spike in high-profile prosecution cases, holding those in government accountable for the misuse of public funds.
The ruling earned the judge a tough and unmovable reputation, one that she has donned proudly from her background that is marked with resilience, hard work and determination.
Ngugi, who was appointed High Court Judge in 2011, is the co-founder of the Albinism Foundation of East Africa, which was started in 2008, in a bid to raise awareness in calling for societal change towards albinism.
She noted that there was a dire need to improve the lives of individuals with albinism, as the disability demands monetary and medical assistance, especially to cater to eyecare and skin protectant products, that she did not have access to when she was growing up.
The foundation was inspired by Ngugi's strong desire to charter her own path in life and hence attributes her no-nonsense character to the challenges that she faced in her upbringing, that propelled her to fight for her place in society.
Speaking in an interview with a local publication, she stated that her different looks made people think that she was intellectually challenged, or a bad omen, or just an object of curiosity.
"I was the center of attention in every crowd, but for the wrong reasons, with people whispering behind my back ,analyzing my looks, often in disparaging terms," she stated in the interview.
Despite the difficulties, she has made a name for herself, attracting international attention that has seen her awarded for her efforts in the implementation of human rights protections.
Earlier in the year, she was hailed by the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s Center for International Human Rights (CIHR)for her life-long commitment to human rights, marginalized populations, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
