What it takes to be a female judge in Nakuru's court
Judge Hellen Wasilwa.
In the past, it was uncommon to see many women hold positions of power professionally, with this translating even to the judicial world.
But over time, things have changed and we see more and more women on the judicial benches with the highest judicial authority in Kenya being a woman.
This is true even for Nakuru, where the presiding judge at Nakuru High Court is Hon. Lady Justice Hedwig Ong'udi.
Mtaa Wangu caught up with Lady Justice Ong'udi alongside Hon. Justice Hellen Wasilwa of the Employment and Labour Relations Court(ELRC) to learn of the challenges they have faced as women, as they climbed up the ranks.
Justice Hellen Wasilwa kicked off the conversation sharing," My judicial journey began back in 1990 when I was appointed as the District Magistrate 2. Through hard work and discipline, I rose to the Principal Magistrate position then to the Registrar of the Industrial Court back in 2007 before being appointed as a judge in ELRC in 2012, a position i still hold to date."
But even as Justice Hellen Wasilwa soared the ranks, she still faced the delicate task of balancing the responsibilities of motherhood and the piling number of court cases.
"I was appointed a Magistrate as a young lady. In that moment, I was new to motherhood and to being a wife. I still had to be the best Magistrate all without induction," she notes with a chuckle.
She additionally cites that throughout her judicial career, there are only two instances where she felt demeaned due to her sex.
"The first instance was when I was still fresh into being a Magistrate and an elderly advocate, a man, began talking down to me in court and asking me to be louder. He only stopped when an advocate, a fellow man, pointed out how wrong his actions were," she narrates before adding, "my 'helper' then went on to remind me that I had every right and skill to be seated in that courtroom as a Magistrate. Those words stuck with me and gave me all the boldness I needed."
Justice Wasilwa's second uncomfortable instance was after making a ruling that an advocate considered unfavourable after which he referred to her as 'huyo mama.'
She shares, "All these however, are a thing off the past. Society has currently matured and people have accepted that judges are of both genders and we are both capable of dispensing justice."
Just like her counterpart, Hon Lady Justice Hedwig notes that she also faced her own unique challenges by the time she was joining the judicial bench.
Hon. Lady Justice Hedwig Ong'udi.
Justice Hedwig narrates," I joined the judiciary in 1985 as a District Magistrate 2 before getting appointed as a Chief Magistrate in 2005 up until 2011. In 2011, I was appointed as a judge of the High Court till present."
"By the time I was joining, the biggest challenge I can point out is the scarcity in women to look up to since there were not so many women on the bench."
As she narrates her story, she cited that this very challenge is what made her have the boldness to be firm and be one of the best in everything she did.
When asked if she experienced any other challenge in her career by virtue of being a woman, she shares, "Yes I did. I lost my husband when I was a young Magistrate."
Left behind with children, her youngest being five years of age, Justice Hedwig had to strike a balance between rendering insightful judgements and being a steadfast presence in her children's lives as a single parent.
She shares, "I had to enrol my children to boarding schools due to the nomadic nature of my job and to make sure I am ascertained of their health and well-being even as I was working."
As the phone interviews come to an end, I ask the seasoned judges for parting shots and words of advice to fellow and aspiring career women.
Hon. Justice Hellen Wasilwa starts off, "Ensure you put in place mechanisms to ensure you have work-life balance. Don't carry work home. When you get home, switch off your work mind and be the mom, wife or sister your loved ones need you to be."
"Never look down on yourself just because you are a woman. You can work anywhere and rise to any position. Whatever a man can do, you can do even better," Hon. Lady Justice Hedwig Ong'udi closes off.