Lydia Mwalimu Adude is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and the Head of Legal Research and Policy at Prof. Tom Ojienda & Associates. Lydia holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Harvard Law School (Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America), a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Kenyatta University School of Law (Nairobi, Kenya), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Advocates Training Programme) from the Kenya School of Law (Nairobi, Kenya).

Her main areas of interest and focus are: Constitutional Law; Administrative Law; Electoral Law; Environmental Law; Land Law; Criminal Law; Public International Law; International Criminal Law; International Humanitarian Law; Human Rights Law; Comparative Constitutional Law; Governance and the Law; Private International Law; Corporate Governance; Law of Contracts; International Dispute Resolution; Information and Communications Technology Law; Children and the Law; and Gender and the Law.

Lydia is a meticulous and passionate advocate and an ardent legal and policy researcher who employs immense diligence in our firm’s litigation, consultancy, research and policy projects. Lydia has been part of the litigation of various cases at the firm, including: London Distillers (K) Limited v. National Environment Management Authority & Erdermann Properties Limited, ELC (Machakos), Appeal No. E007 of 2020; Okiya Omtatah Okoiti & 3 Others v. The Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) & Others, Presidential Election Petition No. E007 of 2020 (as consolidated with Presidential Election Petitions No. E005, E001, E002, E003, E004 & E008 of 2022); Speaker Nairobi City County Assembly & another v. Attorney General & 3 others (Interested parties), Supreme Court Reference No. 1 of 2020; Anthony Tom Oluoch v. The Chief Justice of Kenya, The Honourable Attorney General & Others, High Court (Milimani, Constitutional & Human Rights Division), Constitutional Petition No. E314 of 2020; and Salaries and Remuneration Commission & another v. Parliamentary Service Commission & 15 others; Parliament & 4 others (Interested Parties), High Court (Milimani, Constitutional and Human Rights Division) Constitutional Petition No. 208 of 2019 (Consolidated with Petitions No. 185 and 339 of 2019).

Lydia has relevant international legal experience, especially as concerns legal research, analysis and writing, having worked as a Legal Trainee at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (Berlin, Germany) and as a Legal Intern at both the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (Leidschendam, The Netherlands) and the International Criminal Court (The Hague, The Netherlands). She has also worked as a Part-time Lecturer in Law teaching Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree students Private International Law (Conflict of Laws), Law and Gender Relationships, and Law, Science and Technology, at Kenyatta University School of Law (KUSOL), and International Human Rights Law and Criminal Law, at Riara University Law School (RLS).

Her recent publications are: Prof. Tom Ojienda, SC and Lydia Mwalimu Adude, ‘Electoral Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Kenya’ (2022) Journal of Conflict Management & Sustainable Development, Vol 8, Issue 3, ISBN: 978-9966-046-15-4, pp 44-112; Prof. Tom Ojienda, SC and Lydia Mwalimu Adude,  ‘Conflict of Interest and Public Office in Kenya’ (2021) Journal of Conflict Management & Sustainable Development, Vol 6, Issue 5, 2021, ISBN: 978-9966-046-15-4, pp 1-68; Prof. Tom Ojienda, SC and Lydia Mwalimu Adude, ‘Access to Justice: A Critique of the Small Claims Court in Kenya’ (2021) Alternative Dispute Resolution Journal (CIArb-Kenya), Vol 9, Issue 2, ISBN: 978-9966-046-14-7, pp 170-201; Prof. Tom Ojienda, SC and Lydia Mwalimu Adude, ‘Access to Justice in the Era of COVID-19: Adaptations and Coping Mechanisms of the Legal Services Industry in Kenya’ (2021) Journal of Conflict Management & Sustainable Development, Vol 6, Issue 2, ISBN: 978-9966-046-15-4, pp 1-46; Prof. Tom Ojienda, SC and Lydia Mwalimu Adude, ‘Criminal Liability of Corporate Entities and Public Officers: A Kenyan Perspective’ (2021) Journal of Conflict Management and Sustainable Development, Vol 6, Issue 2, ISBN: 978-9966-046-15-4, pp 117-212; and a book chapter on ‘Sovereign and Diplomatic Immunity vis-a-vis International Criminal Justice’ published in Joseph O. Wasonga and James Nyawo (eds.) (2019), International Criminal Justice in Africa Since the Rome Statute (Nairobi: LawAfrica Publishing Ltd).

She is a member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and a member of the Young International Council for Commercial Arbitration (Young ICCA) because of her added interest in International Investment Law and International Commercial Arbitration issues and practice. She is also a member of the Harvard Club of Kenya, where she has previously served as Secretary to the Board of Directors.