Gibson Kamau Kuria

Dr. Gibson Kamau Kuria, "the recipient of both the Robert F. Kennedy 1988 Human Rights Award and the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Award. Dr. Kuria, a distinguished Kenyan lawyer, has for decades been at the center of Kenya’s struggle for constitutionalism and the rule of law. He has been repeatedly honored – for his defense of dissidents, for his mobilization of members of the Kenyan bar in resisting anti-democratic initiatives and practices, for his distinguished serve as a judge, and for his role in the campaign to restore political pluralism in Kenya. Recently, following the election of President Kibaki, Dr. Kuria was appointed to a tribunal established to inquire into allegations of judicial corruption; in addition, he is currently serving as assisting counsel to the commission enquiring into the infamous Goldenberg scandal." 


 * 1988 - awarded Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award; however, the Kenya government which had confiscated Dr. Kuria’s passport refused to allow him to travel to the US to receive the award; also received the Lawyers Committee for human Rights award; Hon. Paul Muite (now member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliament Select Committee on Constitutional Reform), traveled to the USA and received the award on Dr. Kuria’s behalf and his passport was confiscated upon his return to Kenya,
 * August 1990 – Dr. Kuria was awarded the Rule of Law Award by the American Bar Association for my work in human rights in Kenya,
 * December 1990 - received Human Rights Watch's award as a human rights monitor,
 * May 1991 – Dr. Kuria was awarded the Doctorate of Laws by Lewis Clark Law School, Oregon, USA because of his human rights work; served as Commencement Speaker at the Law School's graduation,
 * 1993 – Dr. Kuria was awarded the Jurists of the Year Award by the International Commission of Jurists (Kenya Chapter),
 * July 1995 - elected Secretary General, East Africa Law Society; in this capacity, Dr. Kuria devised programs for promoting regional integration with a view to establishing an East African federal state to be served by a Federal bar Association; published two articles on how to establish an East African federal state and enforce a Bill of Rights; served until April 1998,
 * Between 1997 and 1998; Dr. Kuria served as the vice-Chairman of the Law Society of Kenya; this bar association has been in the forefront in the struggle to restore constitutionalism,
 * March 1999-2001 – Dr. Kuria Served as Chairman, Law Society of Kenya; in that capacity, Dr. Kuria promoted the rule of law, constitutionalism, and economic reforms, and human rights,
 * Between September 2001 and May 2002 – Dr. Kuria was involved in litigation aimed at removing gerrymandering from the country's electoral process (the Michuki case); the court ruled that the Constitution mandated the one-person - one-vote principle; between May and October 2002, jointly with the RFK Memorial Centre for Human Rights, Dr. Kuria worked on a project to persuade Kenyans to engage in the drawing of the electoral districts on the basis of one-person - one-vote principle; in late October, the Centre sent a delegation to Kenya in support of this project, promotion of constitutionalism, human rights, and the rule of law,
 * Since the formation of the new Government on December 30, 2002, Dr. Kuria has been actively involved in the press in the promotion of democracy, rule of law, human rights, and a competent and independent judiciary

Related Sourcewatch

 * Smith Hempstone, Jr.