Ramadhan Abubakar Mukira, 39

President

East Africa Law Society

Abubakar Mukira’s law journey started in Nairobi’s Eastlands where he grew up. The realities of everyday life exposed him early to the weight of power and the fragility of rights. He recalls watching the second liberation unfold before his eyes. “We grew up seeing James Orengo, Martha Karua, Senior Counsel Paul Muite—the giants of the struggle,” he says. “That is when I knew this is what I want to do.”

His most defining moment came when his favourite uncle failed to return home for days, later revealing he had been arrested for “loitering” without a national identity card.

“I remember thinking, ‘How can something so simple make my uncle disappear for days?’”

He became a thespian before joining college and, for some time, “all I wanted was to be famous and in the arts.”

He joined Catholic University in March 2005. From there, his path became clearer.

"I’m the president at a very tumultuous time; this is when the East Africa Law Society cannot be silent."

Over 13 years, he has built a formidable practice in constitutional and human rights litigation, public law, and election disputes. His victories include halting the Burat Ward evictions, abolishing fees for P3 forms, and securing electoral reforms through the Waity Case (2019).

In 2019, he was honoured as the Public Interest Litigation Jurist of the Year. After serving as Vice Chair of Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Mt Kenya Branch and later as EALS Vice President, he made history in 2024 as the youngest-ever president of the East Africa Law Society.

“I’m the president at a very tumultuous time,” he says. “This is when the East Africa Law Society cannot be silent.” Under his leadership, EALS has filed high-impact regional cases and incorporated the Ethiopian Bar Association—making EALS Africa’s largest bar.

He unwinds as a striker with Wazee FC, travelling when he can, and gathering his closest friends for long, honest conversations.

-Ndugu Abisai