Slain human rights lawyer Willie Kimani has been named Jurist of the Year for paying the price in defending human rights.
The lawyer, who was murdered this year, was honoured with the award for his bravery in defending the poor and oppressed in Kenya ever since he was a student in campus.
While receiving the award, Kimani's widow Hannah Kimani said she had never imagined that his standing up for justice would eventually amount to his death.
“No amount of words can explain who Willy was. He was one of a kind… with this award, it shows that his work was not in vain,” she said.
She described him as “the best father my two boys would ever have.”
International Commission of Jurists Kenya Executive Director Samwel Mohochi said they were giving the prize in honour of the candidness with which Kimani defended the downtrodden.
“We give it to him as recognition for the ultimate price he paid in performing his work as human rights defender and as a reminder to the risks that face all other human rights defenders,” he said as quoted by Capitalfmnews.
“This will renew our commitment to all human rights defenders. It is an appreciation of the work he did,” he added.