First African lawyer to set up private practice in the country

Argwings Kodhek, the first African lawyer, contributed to the independence struggle through his law practice, defending the Mau Mau members in court at a time when very few lawyers could take up their cases.

Born in 1923 in Nyawara Sub-Location in Central Gem Location, Siaya County, Kodhek, whom the Luo fondly refer to as Agwingi, was educated at St Mary’s Yala, Maseno, and Makerere University College.

In 1947, he got a further scholarship to the University of South Wales, graduating as a lawyer and social scientist in 1949.

He also created history as one of the first Africans to marry a white woman, Tate Mavis.

Returning to colonial Kenya in 1951, he established his law practice. His main clients were the Mau Mau freedom fighters.

Highly intellectual, Kodhek was an aggressive personality combined with wit, which saw him run rings around colonial courts.

In 1956, he established one of the early African-led political parties; The Nairobi District African Congress. From 1961 to 1963, he was in the Legislative Council, and after independence, he became the Kanu representative for Gem constituency.

He was instrumental in the first meeting towards establishing the Kenya African National Union (Kanu) held in Kiambu on March 27, 1960. He died on January 29, 1969, in an accident on the road which now bears his name — Argwings Kodhek Road.

The road begins from around Nairobi Hospital, through Hurlingam, and joins Gitanga Road in Lavington past Adams Arcade towards Kawangware.