Gibson Kamau Kuria
Encyclopedia
Gibson Kamau Kuria is a Kenyan lawyer and a recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
for 1988.
, University College, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. He then pursued a Bachelor of Civil Law at the Oxford University. He was awarded the Doctorate of Laws by Lewis & Clark Law School
, Oregon, USA because of his human rights work.
where he taught Law and carried out research between then and September 1972 and 1975. In 1974 he was Appointed Lecturer, Faculty of Law, by the University of Nairobi, where he taught Law and researched between 1974 and 26 February 1987 when he was arrested and detained without trial until 12 December 1987; publishing articles on the rule of law, legal education, legal profession, human rights, and family law, In 1975 he started legal activism with a few practicing lawyers in the Kenya bar; including Paul Muite
; former Attorney-General of Kenya Amos Wako
, and two other attorneys.
Since 1975, Dr. Kuria has published many articles on constitutionalism, rule of law, human rights, legal education, family law, and succession in such scholarly journals as The East African Law Journal. During this time he also represented Wanyiri Kihoro, against the State over violations against Human Rights committed against Mr Kihoro whilst in detention in the famous Nyayo House torture chambers. he was arrested and spent time detained without charge at Naivasha
Maximum Security Prison for his involvement in the case whilst his partner in his law firm Kiraitu Murungi
was forced into exile.
In July 1995 he was 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 and published two articles on how to establish an East African federal state and enforce a Bill of Rights. He served in that position until April 1998.Between 1997 and 1998; Dr. Kuria served as the vice-Chairman of the Law Society of Kenya, rising to chairman from March 1999 to 2001. This bar association has been in the forefront in the struggle to restore constitutionalism, On 22 February 2003 he was appointed by the President a member of a tribunal to enquire into allegations of the Chief Justice's inability to discharge the functions of his office; the CJ resigned about a week after the setting up of the commission. On 28 March 2003, Dr. Kuria was appointed by the President to serve as assisting counsel in the commission to enquire into the Goldenberg scandal
.
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial http://www.rfkmemorial.org/legacyinaction/gibson_bio/
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award was created by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial in 1984 to honour individuals around the world who show courage and have made a significant contribution to human rights in their country....
for 1988.
Early Education
Gibson Kamau Kuria started his formal education at Mahiga Intermediate School from 1954-1961 before going on to high school at Kagumo High School from 1962-1967.Higher education
Dr. Kuria graduated in March 1971 with a Bachelor of Laws degree (Upper Division)at the then University of East AfricaUniversity of East Africa
The University of East Africa was established in 1963 and served Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The University was originally instituted as an independent external college of the University of London. In 1970 it was split into three independent universities which are now:*University of Nairobi...
, University College, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. He then pursued a Bachelor of Civil Law at the Oxford University. He was awarded the Doctorate of Laws by Lewis & Clark Law School
Lewis & Clark Law School
Lewis and Clark Law School is a private American law school located in Portland, Oregon. In the last ten years, L&C's Environmental Law program has been the highest-rated in the United States eight times....
, Oregon, USA because of his human rights work.
Career
In May 1971 Dr. Kuria was appointed a Tutorial Fellow in the Faculty of Law, University of NairobiUniversity of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi is the largest university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution goes back to 1956, it did not become an independent university until 1970 when the University of East Africa was split into three independent universities: Makerere University in...
where he taught Law and carried out research between then and September 1972 and 1975. In 1974 he was Appointed Lecturer, Faculty of Law, by the University of Nairobi, where he taught Law and researched between 1974 and 26 February 1987 when he was arrested and detained without trial until 12 December 1987; publishing articles on the rule of law, legal education, legal profession, human rights, and family law, In 1975 he started legal activism with a few practicing lawyers in the Kenya bar; including Paul Muite
Paul Muite
Paul Kibugi Muite is a Kenyan lawyer, politician and a prominent figure in Kenya's struggle to remove the Single party dictatorship, established by the Kenya African National Union in 1982, during the 1990s. He served a Vice Chairman of Ford-Kenya, whilst it was under the tutelage of Oginga Odinga...
; former Attorney-General of Kenya Amos Wako
Amos Wako
Hon. S. Amos Wako served as th Attorney General of the republic of Kenya for 20 years .Wako was born in Kenya...
, and two other attorneys.
Since 1975, Dr. Kuria has published many articles on constitutionalism, rule of law, human rights, legal education, family law, and succession in such scholarly journals as The East African Law Journal. During this time he also represented Wanyiri Kihoro, against the State over violations against Human Rights committed against Mr Kihoro whilst in detention in the famous Nyayo House torture chambers. he was arrested and spent time detained without charge at Naivasha
Naivasha
Naivasha is a market town in Rift Valley Province, Kenya, lying north west of Nairobi. It is located on the shore of Lake Naivasha and along the Nairobi - Nakuru highway and Uganda Railway.Naivasha is part of the Nakuru District...
Maximum Security Prison for his involvement in the case whilst his partner in his law firm Kiraitu Murungi
Kiraitu Murungi
-Education:Kiraitu Murungi was born on 1 January 1952 in Kionyo village, Abogeta division of Meru District in Central Kenya. He attended Chuka High School before proceeding to Alliance High School. Murungi graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in Nairobi University in 1977 and attained a Master of Law...
was forced into exile.
In July 1995 he was elected Secretary General, East Africa Law Society
East Africa Law Society
The East Africa Law Society is a regional Bar Association in East Africa formed in 1995 and incorporated in Tanzania.The EALS has over 7,000 individual members, and also has six national Bar associations as members: Law Society of Kenya, Tanganyika Law Society, Uganda Law Society, Zanzibar Law...
. 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 and published two articles on how to establish an East African federal state and enforce a Bill of Rights. He served in that position until April 1998.Between 1997 and 1998; Dr. Kuria served as the vice-Chairman of the Law Society of Kenya, rising to chairman from March 1999 to 2001. This bar association has been in the forefront in the struggle to restore constitutionalism, On 22 February 2003 he was appointed by the President a member of a tribunal to enquire into allegations of the Chief Justice's inability to discharge the functions of his office; the CJ resigned about a week after the setting up of the commission. On 28 March 2003, Dr. Kuria was appointed by the President to serve as assisting counsel in the commission to enquire into the Goldenberg scandal
Goldenberg scandal
The Goldenberg scandal was a political scandal where the Kenyan government was found to have subsidised exports of gold far beyond standard arrangements during the 1990s, by paying the company Goldenberg International 35% more than their foreign currency earnings...
.
Awards and achievements
- 1988 - Awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights AwardRobert F. Kennedy Human Rights AwardThe Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award was created by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial in 1984 to honour individuals around the world who show courage and have made a significant contribution to human rights in their country....
; The Kenya government which had confiscated Dr. Kuria’s passport refused to allow him to travel to the US to receive the award ; - 1988 - The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights award - Hon. Paul MuitePaul MuitePaul Kibugi Muite is a Kenyan lawyer, politician and a prominent figure in Kenya's struggle to remove the Single party dictatorship, established by the Kenya African National Union in 1982, during the 1990s. He served a Vice Chairman of Ford-Kenya, whilst it was under the tutelage of Oginga Odinga...
, Kenyan lawyer and Chairman of the Parliament Select Committee on Constitutional Reform, travelled 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 AssociationAmerican Bar AssociationThe American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
for his work in human rights in Kenya, - December 1990 - received Human Rights WatchHuman Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
's award as a human rights monitor, - 1993 – Dr. Kuria was awarded the Jurists of the Year Award by the International Commission of JuristsInternational Commission of JuristsThe International Commission of Jurists is an international human rights non-governmental organization. The Commission itself is a standing group of 60 eminent jurists , including members of the senior judiciary in Australia, Canada, and South Africa and the former UN High Commissioner for Human...
(Kenya Chapter).
External links
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial http://www.rfkmemorial.org/legacyinaction/gibson_bio/