Hannah Okwengu
{{Short description|Kenyan judge}}
Lady Justice Hannah Magondi Okwengu is a judge of the Court of Appeal in Nairobi.
Education and early career
Okwengu was born in Honge Beach{{Cite web|title=‘Village of judges’ – Little-known ward home of distinguished legal brains in Kenya {{!}} Kenya|url=https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/siaya/-village-of-judges-little-known-ward-home-of-distinguished-legal-brains-in-kenya-3390908?view=htmlamp|access-date=2021-12-03|website=nation.africa}} (Yimbo West, near Kisumu). She graduated law school at University of Nairobi in 1979.{{Cite web|last=Gachie|first=Laban Thua|date=2020-07-13|title=Justice Hannah Okwengu - Biography, Court of Appeal, Judge, Age|url=https://kenyanlife.com/justice-hannah-magondi-okwengu/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=Kenyan Life|language=en-US}}
She began work as a Land Registrar in Mombasa and for three years she was an advocate with the Municipal Council of Mombasa.
After less than a year at a law firm she joined the Judiciary as an acting Resident Magistrate in October 1983. Justice Okwengu was a Chief Magistrate by 1999. She then became the Assistant Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority when she was appointed by President Daniel Moi for a five year term. She served as Chief Magistrate in Mombasa, Nakuru, and Nairobi, and was the Judge in Charge of the Mombasa Law Court.
She became the President for four years of the International Association of Women Judges Kenya Chapter.{{Cite web|title=Hon. Lady Justice Hannah Okwengu, JA|url=https://iawjkenyachapter.org/team-member/hannah-okwengu|access-date=2021-12-03|website=iawjkenyachapter.org}} She represents East and Southern Africa at the IAWJ. In 2017 at an IAWJ meeting she called for special courts to tackle rape and other sexual and gender based violence.{{Cite web|title=Women judges want special courts for rape and SGBV|url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2017-05-18-women-judges-want-special-courts-for-rape-and-sgbv/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=The Star|language=en-KE}}
Personal life
Married, with two sons, two daughters and seven grandchildren.
See also
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqWeUMc7DuQ African Women Law Legacy Project, Justice Hannah Okwengu. Part 1]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLvpKLD-d1k African Women Law Legacy Project, Justice Hannah Okwengu. Part 2]