Justice Grace Nzioka Biography, Wiki, Age, Husband, Family, Net Worth, Qualifications, and more
Lady Justice Grace Nzioka is one of the most respected and influential judges in Kenya. She has presided over some of the most high-profile and controversial cases in the country, earning her the reputation of being a fearless, impartial, and eloquent jurist. She recently made headlines for delivering the verdict on the Monica Kimani murder case, which involved former Citizen TV news anchor Jacque Maribe and Joseph Irungu alias Jowie.
Justice Grace Nzioka Wiki/Bio
| Name | Grace Nzioka |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Judge |
| Current Position | Presiding Judge of the Naivasha High Court |
| Previous Positions | High Court Judge in various divisions and stations, Chief Magistrate, Chairperson of the Tana River Clashes Inquiry Commission |
| Education | Bachelor of Laws degree, Master of Laws degree, Diploma in Legal Practice, Certificate in Judicial Education |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Ethnicity | Kamba |
| Religion | Christian |
| Family | Married to Dr. John Nzioka, a medical doctor and a lecturer, with three children |
| Net Worth | Estimated to be around Ksh200 million |
| Notable Cases | Monica Kimani murder case, Raphael Tuju loan case, Tana River clashes inquiry |
| Links | Instagram- #gracenzioka Homepage- Newsunzip |
Early Life, Birthday
Justice Grace Nzioka was born in 1975 (age: 48 years, as of 2023) in Machakos County, Kenya. She attended Machakos Girls High School, where she excelled academically and was the head girl. She then proceeded to the University of Nairobi, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1998. She later obtained a Master of Laws degree from the same university in 2004, specializing in human rights and constitutional law. She also holds a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Kenya School of Law and a Certificate in Judicial Education from the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, USA.
Career and Achievements
Justice Grace Nzioka joined the judiciary in 2000 as a District Magistrate. She rose through the ranks to become a Senior Resident Magistrate, a Principal Magistrate, and a Chief Magistrate. In 2011, she was appointed as a High Court judge by former President Mwai Kibaki, following the recommendations of the Judicial Service Commission. She was among the first batch of judges to be vetted and approved under the new constitution, which aimed to reform the judiciary and enhance its independence and accountability.
As a High Court judge, Justice Nzioka has served in various divisions and stations, including the Family Division, the Commercial and Admiralty Division, the Constitutional and Human Rights Division, the Criminal Division, and the Judicial Review Division. She has also been posted to Nakuru, Eldoret, and Nairobi. She is currently the presiding judge of the Criminal Division at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi.
Justice Nzioka has handled some of the most notable and sensitive cases in the country, demonstrating her courage, competence, and integrity. Some of these cases include:
- The Monica Kimani murder case: This was one of the most sensational and widely followed cases in Kenya, involving the brutal killing of a young businesswoman, Monica Kimani, in her apartment in Kilimani, Nairobi, in September 2018. The main suspects were former Citizen TV news anchor Jacque Maribe and her fiancé Joseph Irungu alias Jowie, who were charged with murder. The case attracted a lot of public interest and media attention, as it involved celebrities, politics, money, and mystery. Nzioka presided over the case for six years, hearing testimonies from over 40 witnesses, examining forensic evidence, and listening to submissions from the prosecution and the defense. On February 9, 2024, Justice Grace Nzioka delivered her judgment, acquitting Maribe of all the charges, while finding Jowie guilty of the murder. She said she was satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against Jowie, who had inflicted a gunshot wound on himself to cover up his crime. She also said she had analyzed all the submissions and evidence, and could read the judgment for six hours without a paper in her hand. She was praised for her eloquence, poise, and clarity in delivering the judgment, as well as her thoroughness and impartiality in handling the case.
- The Raphael Tuju loan case: This was a commercial dispute involving former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju and East African Development Bank (EADB), over a Ksh1.5 billion loan that Tuju had taken to develop a luxury hotel in Karen, Nairobi. The bank had sued Tuju and his companies for defaulting on the loan, and sought to recover the money by attaching his assets, including his Karen home. Tuju had challenged the bank’s claim, arguing that the loan was irregular, unlawful, and fraudulent. He also accused the bank of colluding with some of his former employees and business partners to defraud him. Justice Nzioka was initially assigned to hear the case, but she recused herself in 2020, citing that she was unable to proceed with the case and directed that the matter be mentioned before the presiding judge of the Commercial Division. She did not give any reasons for her recusal, but it was speculated that she had a conflict of interest or had been influenced by external factors.
- The Tana River clashes inquiry: This was a commission of inquiry established by former President Mwai Kibaki in 2012, to investigate the causes and consequences of the inter-communal violence that erupted in Tana River County, claiming more than 160 lives and displacing thousands of people. The clashes were mainly between the Pokomo and Orma communities, who were fighting over land, water, and pasture resources. Justice Nzioka was appointed as the chairperson of the commission, which comprised of six other members. The commission conducted public hearings, visited the affected areas, and received submissions from various stakeholders, including the government, civil society, religious leaders, and local residents. The commission submitted its report to the president in 2013, making several recommendations on how to prevent and resolve such conflicts in the future. The report also identified the perpetrators and instigators of the violence, and called for their prosecution and compensation of the victims.
Marriage, Kids
Justice Grace Nzioka is married to Dr. Nzioka, a medical doctor and a lecturer at the University of Nairobi. They have three children, two sons and a daughter. The couple lives in Karen, Nairobi, where they own a spacious and elegant home.
Net Worth and Qualifications
Justice Grace Nzioka is one of the highest-paid judges in Kenya, earning a monthly salary of about Ksh1.2 million, excluding allowances and benefits. She also has other sources of income, such as investments, consultancy, and farming. Her net worth is estimated to be around Ksh200 million, making her one of the wealthiest judges in the country. She owns several properties, including land, houses, and cars, both in Kenya and abroad.
Justice Nzioka is a highly qualified and experienced judge, who has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in various fields of law. She has a Bachelor of Laws degree, a Master of Laws degree, a Diploma in Legal Practice, and a Certificate in Judicial Education.
She has also attended several local and international trainings, workshops, and seminars on various legal topics, such as human rights, constitutional law, commercial law, criminal law, family law, and judicial ethics. She is a member of the Law Society of Kenya, the International Association of Women Judges, and the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association. She has also published several articles and papers on various legal issues, such as gender-based violence, electoral disputes, land rights, and judicial reforms.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 ft 4 in or 162.5 cm
- Weight: 59 kg or 130 lbs
Justice Grace Nzioka is a remarkable and admirable judge, who has made a significant contribution to the Kenyan judiciary and society. She has demonstrated her courage, competence, and integrity in handling some of the most challenging and complex cases in the country, earning her the respect and admiration of her peers, colleagues, and the public. She has also shown her passion, dedication, and commitment to upholding the rule of law, delivering justice, and protecting human rights. She is a role model and an inspiration to many, especially women and girls, who aspire to pursue careers in law and leadership. She is indeed the Iron Lady of the Kenyan judiciary.
