Katiba 2025 Highlights
The Youth Congress
Celebrating champions of the Constitution
Katiba Roll of Honour-2025
The Youth Congress proudly recognizes six outstanding individuals for their dedication in championing the Constitution and insoiring societal change through Katiba Roll of Honour-The Youth Congress premier national award and recognition initiative.
Hosted annually by The Youth Congress, the prestigious event celebrates selected honorees for their remarkable efforts in pushing forward, showing what is possible and creating change using the Constitution.
This year, the six honorees 2025 Katiba Roll of Honour were celebrated at the Katiba Day event in Nairobi, Kenya.
The 2025 Katiba Roll of Honor.
- Pheroze Nowrojee (posthumous)
- John Khaminwa
- David Maraga
- Wanjira Wanjiru
- Shakira Wafula
- Shikoh Kihika
1. Pheroze Nowrojee (posthumous)
Pheroze Nowrojee who passed on in April this year, was widely regarded not only for his deep legal intellect but also for his quiet charisma, humility, and sharp analytical mind. He was often described as a lawyer’s lawyer, who pursued justice over grandstanding, and who believed in the sanctity of the Constitution, even in the most turbulent political climates. During Kenya’s darkest political moments, particularly under the one-party regime of the 1980s and 1990s, Pheroze Nowrojee stood firm in defense of human rights and constitutionalism. He represented numerous political detainees, activists, journalists, and opposition leaders who were victims of state oppression.
Nowrojee was the epitome of forthrightness and resilience for the struggle and agitation for human rights in Kenya. For as long as Kenyans have fought for their civil, political liberties and freedoms, Senior Counsel Pheroze Norojee was there, steadfast and unbowed as the People’s Attorney. His thoughts and footprints are in every milestone Kenya has attained, including the Constitution of 2010. And he didn’t stop there, he remained engaged in ensuring full and proper implementation of the 2010 constitution. (Here to receive the award on behalf of Pheroze, who we sadly lost in April this year, his wife Viloo Nowrojee)
John Khaminwa is Kenya’s oldest practicing Advocate having practiced law since 1973. He’s been battling for the Rule of Law. In addition to his legal practice, Khaminwa is recognized as a champion and defender of human rights. He is recognized by many for his unique demeanour, boldness, and speaking truth to power. Besides his legal background, has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to human rights issues. The senior lawyer uses litigation and activism to challenge state power and authoritarianism.
As he says; “Lawyers must fight for democratic space, uphold the Constitution and the Rule of Law”
He spent nearly two years in detention following just because he represented pro-democracy figures like Raila Odinga, Kenneth Matiba and George Anyona during the single party rule of KANU. Dr. Khaminwa has continued to take on cases that subsequent establishments are not happy with including those trying to promote multi-party democracy and human rights. The insurmountable hurdles he overcame, and his continued effort to push for the full and proper implementation of the constitution, are among the reasons that John Mugalasinga is inducted to the prestigious Katiba Roll of Honour 2025.
3. David Maraga
David Maraga’s boldness and brave stand is nothing less than justice and strict adherence to the law. When the second CJ under the 2010 Constitution declared the re-election of Uhuru Kenyatta, during 2017 presidential election null and void, he stated: “The greatness of a nation lies in its fidelity to its constitution and strict adherence to the rule of law and above all the fear of God.”
Former chief justice David Maraga will be remembered for generations in Kenya and in the global community as one the “giants of the constitution”. In a historic judgment, and a first on the African continent, Kenya’s Supreme Court asserted the place of the constitution supremacy as decreed by the Article1 of Kenya 2010 constitution. The bench led by CJ Maraga as President of the SC delivered a stunning judgment overturning a presidential election of a sitting president.. In the Court’s majority ruling, the electoral commission had committed irregularities and failed to conduct the election in accordance with constitutional dictates and other relevant electoral laws. In 2010 as CJ, he advised the President to dissolve Parliament for failing to attain the constitutional provision that no more than two thirds of any elected or appointed body should be occupied by people of the same gender. Even after leaving office, he has continued to speak out against transgressions of the law and represented victims of state oppression. That is why the CJ Emeritus David Maraga is an obvious choice to be inducted into the Katiba Roll of Honor 2025
4. Wanjira Wanjiru
Our next honoree is a grassroots activist who co-founded the Mathare Social Justice Centre. She rose to prominence on Saba Saba day in 2020, pro-democracy demonstrations, when a video of her defying a police officer went viral. Kenyans were shocked to see a young woman looking at a police officer in in the eye and saying, “I’m protesting because you are killing us.” Her motto is, “When we lose our fear, they lose their power.”
Over the years, and together with other young people in various informal settlements, Wanjira Wanjiru has continued to amplify their struggle and demand for dignified lives, as laid out in Article 43 of the Constitution on economic and social rights.
Wanjira’s bravery and remarkable organization and mobilization for social justice, earns her a place in Katiba Roll of Honor, this year.
5. Shakira Wafula
Our next honoree, came to prominence during the June 2024 Gen Z protests. She was at the forefront of the nationwide movement against the Finance Bill 2024.
Her bold stance against police transgressions during the protests against the Finance Bill that was withdrawn after the national outrage earned her widespread praise. In videos circulated online, she could be heard telling police officers, “I’m here for Kenyans, I’m here for my people, I’m here for your rights. Nitoe!! Nitoe baba! Sitoki!” she told the frustrated officers.
Shakira Wafula has continued to fearlessly speak out for social justice, to organize and mobilize youth to exercise their agency.
Recently Team Shakira, mobilized Kenyans to raise more than 2.8 million to bail out young people detained following June 2025 protests. The initiative launched after the June 2025 and Saba Saba protests, gained momentum online rallying contributions from across the country.
Ladies & gentlemen, join me as we welcome Shakira Wafula into the Katiba Roll of Honor 2025
6. Shikoh Kihika
Our final honoree tonight is the founder of Tribeless Youth Movement in Kenya that seeks to end negative ethnicity that could lead to poll chaos.
The name Wanjiku Kihika is a household name in Nakuru. A name that is very well known in the activism space. Her passion for activism gave rise to Ubuntu Creative Space at Tribeless youth, a space that ropes in young people to discuss matters of governance and educate the community using art, dialogue and storytelling.
She’s been able to foster the pioneer creatives and activism digital media organization that focuses on nurturing and incubating the emergence of upcoming generations who are socially conscious artists, activists, content creators and marginalized group.
While the Constitution guarantees the right to protest, past demonstrations have not always been smooth. Many have ended in clashes, arrests, and, in some cases, victims of excessive force by the police. And Shikoh has been helping protesters to prepare for marches and to stay safe and march responsibly.
Katiba Roll of Honor 2025 welcomes Wanjiku Kihika (unfortunately she can’t be with us tonight, but here to receive the award on behalf of Shiko is her sister)