William Okumu
From Death Row to the Bar of Kenya
Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Legal Officer, Justice Defenders
“The journey from behind bars to the Bar has been so fulfilling. One of my most memorable moments was convincing Morris Kaberia to study law. Today we are free men working together.”
When William Okumu began studying law inside Kamiti Maximum Prison, he was living under a mandatory death sentence. At the time, he felt the weight of decisions made under economic pressure, decisions he openly acknowledges and deeply regrets. Yet nothing prepared him for the shock of receiving a sentence that offered no prospect of release. Behind the prison walls, he reached a turning point and made a choice to understand the very system that had shaped the course of his life.
In 2013 William joined Justice Defenders and began studying for the University of London LLB. Prison became his classroom, and the programme became a source of direction. As he worked through each module, he discovered a desire not only to understand the law but to use it to support others facing the same confusion he once felt. The turning point came in 2018 when he completed his degree. A year later, after the Supreme Court declared the mandatory death penalty unconstitutional, William appeared before the courts once again, this time for resentencing. He was immediately released.
Freedom did not mark the end of his journey but the beginning of a new purpose. William now works as an advocate and legal officer with Justice Defenders, using his training to amplify the voices of those who cannot advocate for themselves. He is committed to supporting vulnerable communities, raising awareness of legal rights and helping others navigate systems that once overwhelmed him. His work is grounded in the belief that justice must be accessible to all and that no one should stand alone before the law.
William’s path from death row to admission to the Bar of Kenya in 2024 is a story of perseverance, learning and service. What began in a maximum security prison has grown into a career dedicated to strengthening justice for others. Today he stands not only as a lawyer but as a mentor, a community leader and a powerful example of what transformation looks like when education and opportunity meet determination.