Kenyan lawyer wins YAWC Network global vice-presidential position

Ruth Jemutai Rop, a Kenyan lawyer based in Nairobi has been declared winner of the just-ended Vice Presidential contest in the Young African Women Congress (YAWC) Network Global Elections.

She unseats Ghana’s Evelyn Oye Lamptey who was the inaugural Vice President of the pan-African women’s global group. Ms Rop will work closely with Jacqueline Nyapendi who has won a second-term bid as Global President of the YAWC Network.

Ms Rop is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya currently working under the Office of the Attorney General of Kenya as a Senior State Counsel. Her main role is to represent the Government in civil cases and to prepare professional legal opinions for Government ministries and state agencies.

She has served as a Chief Officer in charge of the County Government of Uasin Gishu, Kenya from 2018 to 2022. During this period, she was the head of the department and the accounting officer in charge of all projects and daily operations of the department. She has also practiced law in the law firm of Boinet & Bett Company Advocates in Kenya. While there she did pro bono litigation for many needy persons especially women and persons living with disability.

She is a member of the Young African Women Congress (YAWC) Network in good standing since 2018. She has been the President of the Kenya Chapter from 2018 to 2022. She has led the Kenyan Delegation and lobbied for increased membership hence the growth in the number of women delegates from Kenya that have been attending the annual convocation. She has led a vibrant chapter that has the highest following on social media so far.

In 2022, a Kenyan was awarded The Model African Woman of the Year by the YAWC Network, which is the most prestigious award on the continent. This is as a result of the good work that the chapter is doing. In 2022, the inaugural sub-regional session of the Young African Women Congress was successfully held in Nairobi Kenya. This event was well organized and well attended. She was the leader of the local organising team that delivered a world-class congress.

She has participated in the girl child and women empowerment advocacies which has seen more women elected, nominated and appointed to serve in various leadership capacities.

She is currently pursuing Masters in Environmental Law (LLM) at University of Nairobi. Other academic qualification she has includes Arbitration from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Certified Public Secretary from KASNEB, Post Graduate Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law and Bachelor of Law Degree from Moi University, Kenya.

Ruth is expected to bring her experience and expertise on board to mobilise and empower more women across the continent for the development of themselves and their communities.