A Review of Hon. Chief Justice Martha Koome’s Autobiography,

“The bankruptcy case involved a media mogul who owed about Ksh. 500,000, a small amount of money for a man of his stature, which he had refused to pay. The court found for the creditor and ordered the media mogul to pay the money. The creditor was unsuccessful in attaching the property because the media mogul did not have any property registered in his name. All his known assets were registered in the name of his companies. The creditor applied to have the media mogul declared bankrupt. When the bankruptcy case came before me, the media mogul said he was not willing to pay. I made an order declaring him bankrupt. The order sent shock waves through the court corridors and the echelons of power. The aftershock was swift. I was in the middle of dictating a judgment when I received a transfer letter. I had been moved from Nairobi to the High Court in Kitale, whose jurisdiction included remote parts of north‑western Kenya.”

These are words from Hon. Chief Justice Martha Koome’s autobiography, Courting Courage. “Courting” in this title invokes the formal world of the courts—law, justice, procedure and the long corridors in which Martha has spent most of her life. But it also carries the older sense of seeking, wooing and pursuing with intention. “Courage,” in turn, is both the quality she has had to summon repeatedly, as in the bankruptcy case where she had to stare down the powerful and rule against them in defence of justice.

The Power of Personal Storytelling in Courting Courage

Martha’s intensely personal story begins in a village called Kithiu in present-day Meru County. Life in the village was communal, and she grew up among members of her extended family.

Growing up in a large polygamous family, Martha had nine siblings, apart from those from her father’s second household. She writes that her mother, Naomi Irangu—affectionately called Gaake (aunt) by everyone, including her own children—had the greatest impact on her life. Of her mother, she writes, “She taught me to be independent and responsible. She taught me how to do my laundry, fetch firewood and cook… and how to carry a jerrycan of water on my back.”

Courting Courage is a masterclass in how to balance the personal with the political. Koome’s experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field are not just recounted as obstacles but as catalysts for change. She paints her journey with sensory details—the rustle of court papers, the weight of judicial robes, the hum of courtroom debates—bringing the reader into her world with vivid clarity.

The memoir invites readers into the intimate spaces of a remarkable life.

Lessons on Resilience and Leadership from Kenya’s First Female Chief Justice

Reading about Koome’s ascent to becoming Kenya’s first female Chief Justice is like watching a river carve its path through rock—steady, determined, and unstoppable. Her story is a beacon for anyone facing systemic barriers or self-doubt.

She shares practical lessons on resilience that go beyond platitudes. For instance, she describes how she navigated the pressures of public scrutiny and political interference with a calm that felt almost poetic. Her leadership style, grounded in empathy and integrity, offers a blueprint for aspiring leaders who want to lead with both strength and grace.

One passage that stayed with me was her reflection on mentorship. Koome credits much of her growth to mentors who believed in her potential and challenged her to rise above limitations. This highlights a crucial takeaway for memoir writers: our stories are often intertwined with those who shape us, and acknowledging them enriches our narratives.

A gavel symbolizing justice and leadership

The memoir highlights the strength and grace required in leadership.

Crafting Your Memoir: Inspiration from Courting Courage

If you are considering writing your own memoir, Koome’s book offers invaluable inspiration. She demonstrates how to weave personal anecdotes with broader social themes, creating a narrative that is both intimate and impactful.

Here are some actionable tips drawn from her storytelling approach:

1. Start with honesty - Don’t shy away from vulnerability. Your truth is your power.

2. Use sensory details - Engage your readers’ senses to bring scenes to life.

3. Balance personal and public - Show how your experiences connect to larger societal issues.

4. Highlight growth - Reflect on how challenges shaped your character and choices.

5. Acknowledge influences - Include the people and moments that helped you evolve.

   
   

By following these principles, you can craft a memoir that not only preserves your legacy but also inspires others to find their own voice.

The Cultural Significance of Courting Courage in African Storytelling

What makes Courting Courage particularly compelling is its rootedness in Kenyan and African contexts. Koome’s narrative is a celebration of heritage, identity, and the power of storytelling to preserve culture.

Her book reminds us that memoirs are not just personal archives; they are cultural artifacts. They capture the nuances of a time, place, and community that might otherwise fade into obscurity. For individuals with African heritage, this is a call to action—to document your stories with the care and artistry they deserve.

At school, Martha was always a star—from her days in primary school to Chuka Commercial Secondary School (O level) and then to Mugoiri Girls School (A level). At Mugoiri, she was among the top ten students nationally in her A level exams.

After her A levels and before joining university, she got married. She pauses to remember the youth that has vanished, and her love for Koome Kiragu, the smartly dressed gentleman she met years ago. Of that time, she writes that Koome “introduced me to them (his grandfather and grandmother) as his fiancée. That was the first time he had openly talked about marriage. I was pleasantly surprised… Outwardly, I put on a little drama and asked many questions. What sort of marriage proposal was that?”

At the University of Nairobi, as a young mother and wife, she writes, “I hardly had time to study. This took a toll on my academic performance and my final results were a Pass, the lowest grade for those who made it to the graduation list. I was downcast and did not know what to do.”

Martha’s memoir understandably dwells on her life in the corridors of justice. There are serious as well as humorous sections. Describing lawyers, her colleague G. B. M. Kariuki said that “while ordinary mortals have one mouth and two ears, litigation lawyers at times seem to have two mouths and no ears.”

Another humorous incident occurred during her tour of duty in Nakuru as the High Court Resident Judge: “The court compound was not fenced and the premises could be accessed from all directions, by all and sundry… I would be seated in my chambers, pondering an important legal issue, when a hawker selling mali-mali (petty goods) would emerge. While I was trying to process this outrageous sight, I would see another pedlar carrying a huge flask, selling tea and mandazi around the court premises.” She eventually put an end to this spectacle.

Martha is fierce, urgent and intense in her demands for justice. This urgency, this wildness, the seeming rebellion of a life that refused to stay within the lines drawn for it—echoed in the many abrupt twists and turns of a journey that took her from advocate and activist to celebrated jurist. Her career runs alongside something else, something melancholic and heavier: Is justice possible in this life? And more urgently—what is the law for, if not this?

In her experiences with the women she defended, the detainees she visited in cells (including the late ODM leader Raila Odinga), and in many other causes, the system itself appears as a recurring character, endlessly frustrating, and yet she kept returning to its doors, briefs in hand.

The memoir succeeds on many fronts: the storytelling is direct, with some characters that would rival Dickens’s fictional creations for their spectacle. It especially benefits young women and students for its message of resilience, ambition, and self-belief. Lawyers, judges and law students will glean insights into Kenya’s legal system, activism and judicial philosophy. Policymakers and gender advocates will draw lessons from its reflections on women’s rights, legal reform, and social justice. General readers will enjoy its riveting storytelling, humour and emotional honesty. Courting Courage speaks to all. Understanding or being informed about the law or anything else you are dealing with is the first step to administering and receiving justice, for what you do not know might never favour you.

Beyond being an enjoyable read, the childhood and court scenes could easily be adapted into drama and film episodes. The book can also be used in education—in gender studies, law, leadership training and civic education—and in policy-making, as Martha’s reflections on justice, gender and institutional reforms offer rich material for discussions on legal and social policy.

The main hiccup in Courting Courage emerges not from a lack of material, but from the way the story is shaped and where it stops. The memoir carries the reader through Martha’s colourful life and career, but just as the narrative gathers momentum—just as the stakes rise and the arc of her public life reaches its natural peak—the book ends. The moment she is appointed Chief Justice, the story closes, leaving the reader breathless, standing at the anticlimactic threshold of the most dramatic and historically significant chapter of her life. The memoir feels like the first volume of a larger story rather than a complete autobiography.

That notwithstanding, the memoir especially succeeds in challenging stereotypes by presenting a multifaceted portrait of African womanhood—strong, complex, and visionary. It encourages writers to embrace their unique perspectives and contribute to a richer, more diverse literary landscape.

Embracing Your Story with Courage and Clarity

As I closed Courting Courage, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. Martha Koome’s journey is a testament to the power of courage—not just the kind that makes headlines, but the quiet, persistent courage that fuels everyday life and storytelling.

If you are ready to embark on your own memoir-writing journey, remember this: your story matters. It deserves to be told with warmth, clarity, and a touch of poetic flair. Let Koome’s example inspire you to pick up your pen and court your own courage.

Writing your memoir is more than an act of remembrance; it is a gift to future generations. It is how legacies are beautifully chronicled and preserved, ensuring that the echoes of your life will resonate long after the final page is turned.

If you are ready to tell your story but need help in writing, I will be glad to help. Contact me at: johnmwazemba@gmail.com