Senior Counsel Katwa Kigen has long been regarded as one of Kenya’s most respected and accomplished lawyers.
Over the years, he has handled high-profile cases that have placed him at the heart of the country’s most-watched court battles, shaping his reputation as a sharp and relentless legal mind.
His career has seen him represent powerful figures and ordinary citizens alike, always leaving a mark in the courtroom.
This article explores Katwa Kigen's journey and the pivotal moments that have defined his career:
Education and Admission to the Bar
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Katwa is a Senior Counsel with an impressive academic background. He graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB, Hons) before advancing to earn a Master of Laws (LLM) in 2012.
He also holds a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. In 1996, he was admitted to the Bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, marking the beginning of a distinguished legal career.
Since 2009, he has also been a recognised counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Legal Practice and Career Growth
Katwa began his legal practice at Nyairo & Company Advocates, later working at Kibet & Company Advocates and Ochieng, Onyango, Kibet & Ohaga Advocates.
Over the years, he has represented leading commercial banks, manufacturing companies, cooperative societies, and individuals in matters ranging from commercial transactions, debt recovery, conveyancing, and arbitration to corporate governance, succession, land law, and criminal defence.
Today, he is a partner at Katwa & Kemboy Advocates in Nairobi, specialising in civil and criminal litigation across diverse areas such as banking, insurance, medical negligence, environmental law, and international trade.
His practice has seen him appear before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, specialised tribunals, the East African Court of Justice, and the ICC.
Katwa Kigen Top Cases
Representing Ruto, Sang at ICC
The Senior Counsel cemented his reputation as one of Kenya’s foremost legal minds by taking on some of the nation’s most-watched and politically charged cases.
He rose to international prominence as part of the defence team for President William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua Sang at the International Criminal Court (ICC), representing them on charges of crimes against humanity during the 2007–2008 post-election violence.
The strategy he helped craft, including challenging the ICC’s jurisdiction and suggesting local Kenyan courts as a more suitable venue, helped the case collapse and was withdrawn in April 2016.
Defending Jacque Maribe
Locally, Katwa Kigen played a central role in securing Jacque Maribe’s acquittal in the Monica Kimani murder case, a trial that had gripped national attention since 2018.
Maribe, who was charged alongside her ex-fiancé Joseph “Jowie” Irungu, had been accused of being an accomplice in the killing, but Katwa successfully dismantled the prosecution’s case by pointing out the absence of motive, forensic evidence, or credible witness testimony linking her to the crime.
He emphasised that Maribe neither knew the victim nor had any connection to the crime scene, arguing that the charges were baseless and improperly framed.
His strategy of exposing evidentiary weaknesses convinced the High Court, which ruled in 2024 that the case against Maribe had not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Representing Henry Rotich
He also represented former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich in the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dam corruption case. The prosecution’s failure to produce key witnesses led to a dramatic collapse of the case in December 2023.
He had applied for the position of an IEBC commissioner, but later withdrew, citing his suitability.
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