This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
On July 10, 2020, Mathenge Mukundi made history by becoming the first advocate of the High Court of Kenya to wear a turban instead of the traditional barrister wig.
Mathenge, a 24-year-old Rastafarian, graduated with a Degree in Law from Kenyatta University before joining the Kenya School of Law.
He revealed that he had to be creative to survive on campus, taking up nail art as a side hustle to pay for his food and rent bills.
Despite facing discrimination from some lecturers, Mathenge remains optimistic about his future as a lawyer, saying, "I am yet to get a job and it is very difficult to job hunt during the coronavirus pandemic but I am hoping things will be better soon."
Mathenge's journey to becoming a lawyer was inspired by his passion for fighting and defending basic human rights, and he hopes to use his skills to help the oppressed in society.
"I did pupillage at Kenya Law and my work speaks for itself. My hope is that I will not be discriminated against as a lawyer just because of the Rastafarian faith I believe in," he concluded.
