The judiciary mourns the loss of one of its dedicated officers, Hon. Zena Atetwe Rashid Jalenga, affectionately known as Hon. Zena Rashid. On Mashujaa Day, Chief Justice Martha Koome announced that Hon. Zena Rashid had passed away after a long illness. Serving as a magistrate since 2023, she was based at the Milimani Commercial Courts.
Hon. Zena Rashid came from a family dedicated to the legal profession. Her mother, the late Betty Rashid, was an advocate and magistrate, and her sister also followed in their footsteps. She attended St. George’s Secondary School before joining the Faculty of Law at the University of Nairobi.Admitted as an advocate in 2013, Hon. Zena Rashid initially worked as an associate advocate at Otieno Omuga & Ouma Advocates. She later joined her mother’s law firm, Betty Rashid & Co. Advocates, located at Agip House in Nairobi. Sadly, her mother passed away in 2020, marking a challenging period for the family. In the same year, Hon. Zena Rashid developed a medical condition that caused inter-cranial pressure on her optic nerve, leading to deteriorating eyesight. Despite undergoing surgery in 2021, she completely lost her sight.
Despite her blindness, Hon. Zena Rashid was sworn in as a magistrate, becoming one of the few judicial officers with a disability. Known for her brilliance in legal proceedings, she earned respect and admiration for her humility, kindness, and professionalism towards both litigants and advocates.
Her remarkable journey and unwavering commitment to justice, even under challenging circumstances, will be remembered. May her soul rest in peace.
Leave a Reply