History was written on Wednesday at the legendary Taifa Hall in Nairobi when legal scholar Prof Patricia Mbote stepped up for public presentation of her Higher Doctorate of law thesis.
Known as Legum Doctors, it's the highest achievement that can be made in law teaching and from henceforth, other scholars will freely make reference to her work.
But importantly, Prof Mbote, who became a lecturer first in 1990, became the first woman in East and Central Africa to successfully present a dissertation on Doctorate of law.
"Prof. Patricia Kameri-Mbote is the first woman in the University of Nairobi, Kenya and East Africa to publicly present her Doctor of Laws ( LLD), hers would be the 6th Higher Doctorate in the @uonbi," University of Nairobi tweeted.
Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Isaac Mbeche lauded the new heights set by Prof Patricia, reckoning that she had been honoured as a Senior Counsel besides winning major awards.
"Prof. Patricia Kameri-Mbote She has been honoured professionally. She is a Senior Counsel. Elder of Burning Spear. Given honorary degree by University of Oslo," be noted.
Some of her former students among them Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Raila Odinga's aide Silas Jakakimba lauded her as an inspiration in the legal field.
"Congratulations to my friend, my academic referee, former lecturer and LLB dissertation supervisor Prof Patricia Kameri-Mbote, SC, EBS, for successfully presenting publicly her higher Doctorate of Law thesis today at Taifa Hall, UoN. Her well thought out thesis titled “Contending Norms in Plural Legal Systems: The Limits of Formal Law” is an eye opener for law makers, law reformers, academics and legal practitioners," Murkomen said.
"CONGRATULATIONS to my Lecturer Prof. Annie Patricia Kameri-Mbote for being the FIRST woman in East& Central Africa to present a Higher Doctorate Thesis, LL.D(Legum Doctoris). A solid Presentation. We, young scholars, are hugely inspired & a little scared," added Jakakimba.
A Higher Doctorate puts the learner in a pedestal of Ultimate Authority in the academic discipline of choice- making him or her the Reference Point in the relevant field.
Unlike other doctorate degrees, the Higher Doctorate does not need supervision. One needs to do proper research on at least 150 published journals before coming with a well written work which is presented to the public.