BY SAM ALFAN.
Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola has been re-elected as the president of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges for a second term.
Justice Lenaola who was re-elected unopposed in the Netherlands during the association’s Biannual conference.
The Supreme Court judge was first elected President of the Association in February 2020 in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The Association said in a statement judge Lenaola as a highly experienced judge, who has exhibited great professionalism, dedication, and commitment to promoting the rights of refugees and migrants.
The association revealed that Judge Lenaola visionary leadership has helped the association to grow and establish itself as a critical force in promoting justice and fairness to vulnerable members of the society.
“The re-election of Justice Lenaola is a clear indication of the trust and confidence that members of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges have in his leadership,” the association said.
The statement added that the association it was confident that Judge Lenaola will continue to steer the association in the right direction, promote international cooperation, and provide the necessary guidance in dealing with complex migration and refugee-related legal issues.
The Association has over 400 members globally comprising four Chapters – European, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Africa.
Before joining the bench in 2003, Justice Lenaola practiced law in Nairobi specialising in Commercial Law and Land Law and served as a Commissioner both at the Peoples Commission of Kenya (PCK) and at the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC).
He also served as a member of the Tribunal Investigating the conduct of judges.
He served in several High Court stations including Embu, Meru, Machakos and Kakamega and also as a Commissioner at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) before he was elevated to the Supreme Court.
The Law Society of Kenya awarded him in 2008 for distinguished service in the Administration of Justice, the East African Law Society honorary membership award for exemplary service and the development of jurisprudence in Kenya and the East African Region (2015) as well as distinguished service awards in the service of the International Association of Refugee and Migration Judges (IARMJ) (2014 and 2018).
