The presidential election petition in Kenya, like was the case in Uganda, brought to attention the absence of women in the Supreme Court proceedings.
However, a young lady stepped forward during the fourth day of the proceedings when Uhuru’s lawyers countered opposition leader Raila Odinga’s claims that the presidential election was rigged in Uhuru Kenyatta’s favour.
Mellisa Ng’ania, was probably the youngest female lawyer in the 2017 Kenyan presidential election petition and she took social media by storm because she worked on a high profile case for the most senior citizen in their nation.
Ms. Ng’ania and senior counsel Fred Ngatia, Ahmednassir Abdullahi and another lawyer Tom Macharia were representing President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee Party in the petition filed by Raila Odinga of NASA challenging the former’s re-election.
The youthful and very focused lady, works for Wairegi Gatetua and Associates and was admitted to the bar in 2011. She first worked with Havi and Co. Advocates for six years of which she says gave her the exposure.
In an exclusive interview with Kenya’s The Standard, Ng’ania revealed that it was like a dream come true for her as a lawyer to be part of President Uhuru’s legal team at the Supreme Court.
“It was a great experience and I loved the team work and resilience”, she said.
Ng’ania went to Tororo Girls School in Uganda before joining Makerere University where she graduated with a law degree before going back to Kenya and later enrolling at Kenya Law School.
Kenyans were quick to recognise her contribution in the election petition and even Nelson Havi her former boss at Havi &Co. Advocates congratulated her in a statement,
“Kudos to Mellisa Ng’ania, youngest and only female lawyer in the presidential petition. A Product of Havi & Co.”
To all the budding young female lawyers out there, pick your inspiration.
