Law is more than a profession. It is a responsibility to people.
Gitobu Imanyara's legal career has been closely connected to questions of justice, constitutional rights, human dignity and the protection of individual freedoms.
The law behind the work
After being called to the Bar, Gitobu Imanyara established Gitobu Imanyara & Co. Advocates in 1979. His legal practice has developed alongside a broader engagement with public interest, constitutional questions and the protection of fundamental rights.
For him, the practice of law has also intersected with public life. His work has brought together legal advocacy, questions of justice and a sustained interest in the rights and freedoms protected by law.
Defending the rights of the individual
Human rights have remained an important part of Gitobu Imanyara's public and professional life. His work has engaged questions surrounding freedom of expression, freedom of the press, democratic participation and the protection of constitutional rights.
These principles are not simply matters of legal theory. They affect how people speak, participate in public life, challenge authority and seek justice when their rights are threatened.
When defending principles became personal
Gitobu Imanyara's commitment to freedom of expression and democratic principles also brought him into direct conflict with the authorities during Kenya's one-party era.
In 1991, he was detained and faced sedition charges in connection with material published through the Nairobi Law Monthly. The charges were subsequently dropped and he was released on 28 May 1991.
A chapter in which journalism, law and the defence of fundamental freedoms converged.
Freedom and justice are not abstract ideas. They shape the lives of ordinary people.
The law has meaning when it protects people.
Across legal practice, public life and human-rights advocacy, the central question remains the same: how can law serve justice and protect the rights of the individual?