PROFILE: Who is the new lead counsel for Besigye’s defense team?

Veteran Kenyan lawyer and politician Martha Karua has been named the head of the legal team defending Ugandan opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye and his associate Hajj Obeid Lutale in their ongoing trial at the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala.

The announcement was made by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who relinquished his role as lead counsel in favor of Karua.

Karua, a trailblazer in Kenya’s legal and political landscape, brings a wealth of experience to the high-stakes case. A graduate of the University of Nairobi with a law degree (1980) and a postgraduate diploma in legal practice (1981), Karua began her career as a magistrate in the 1980s before transitioning to private practice in 1987.

She is celebrated for her fearless defense of human rights activists and political dissidents during Kenya’s struggle for multi-party democracy in the 1990s.

As one of the “Young Turks,” Karua played a critical role in challenging the autocratic regime of former President Daniel Moi, representing clients in high-profile cases such as the treason trials of Koigi wa Wamwere and the late Mirugi Kariuki. Her bold legal advocacy earned her the reputation of being one of the fiercest defenders of democracy and justice in Kenya.

Karua’s political career is equally distinguished. She served as Member of Parliament for Gichugu from 1992 to 2013, during which she held ministerial roles in the Water and Justice ministries. Known as the “Iron Lady” of former President Mwai Kibaki’s government, she resigned abruptly in 2008 after policy disagreements. In 2013, she ran for Kenya’s presidency and has since remained a prominent voice in governance and justice matters.

Karua’s leadership in Besigye’s case follows the arrest of Besigye and Lutale in Nairobi during the launch of her book, Against the Tide. The duo has since been charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, prompting an outpouring of legal and political support from both Uganda and Kenya.

Lukwago emphasized that Karua’s appointment is part of a broader strategy to assemble a formidable team of over 50 lawyers from Uganda and Kenya. Legal representatives from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU), and East African Law Society are also expected to participate in the December 2 hearing.

“Martha Karua will now lead this monumental legal battle,” Lukwago confirmed, adding that efforts are ongoing to involve the leadership of the Law Society of Kenya.

With Karua at the helm, the legal team aims to mount a robust defense, reinforcing the ties between regional legal fraternities and the shared commitment to justice.