Woman who sends the wheels of justice spinning

• Achode brought together all 327 magistrates and 17 kadhis on short notice for the swearing-in ceremony that was brought forward from Saturday to Friday

She was posted to Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi where she served from 1988 to 1994. In 1994 she was transferred to Mombasa as a Senior Resident Magistrate.

Her diligence was again recognised when she was promoted to Principle Magistrate in 2000 and to Senior Principle Magistrate 2004.

She was appointed anti-corruption magistrate in Coast Region and North-Eastern Province in the year 2004, a position she held until she got appointed as the chief court administrator.

At the swearing in, President Kibaki urged the new judges to adhere to the rule of law.

“I am sure you are capable and will perform your duties well.”

She envisions a country where citizens are conversant with their rights and understand the law.

“Some Kenyans are only aware of us once they have been arrested and arraigned in a court or when a relative is in trouble or whenever a dispute arises,” she says, and urges Kenyans to take more interest in the new document.

The Judiciary will keep the pens the president used to sign the new Constitution. “It is part of our history and a symbol of our rebirth,” she concludes.