Catherine Muyeka Mumma

Last updated
Catherine Mumma
CBS
Nominated Senator
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 August 2022
Personal details
Party ODM
Alma mater University of Nairobi (LLB)
Queen Mary University of London (LLM)
Occupation
  • Legislator
  • human rights advocate
  • lawyer
Website cathymumma.com

Catherine Muyeka Mumma is a Kenyan lawyer and human rights advocate who also serves as a senator in the upper house of the Kenyan parliament.

Contents

Education

Mumma attended the University of Nairobi for her undergraduate studies. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in law. In 1994 she graduated from Queen Mary University of London with a Master's degree in law. [1]

Career

Civil service

Mumma began her legal practice as a State Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General in 1995. During her tenure, she collaboratively worked with other stakeholders on initiating the drafting of the law that informed the development of the Breast Milk Substitutes Act, enacted in 2012. [2]

She was a commissioner at the Kenya National Commission of Human Rights between 29 July 2003 and 29 July 2006. [3]

In 2008, Mumma was appointed as a commissioner on the Kriegler Commission, an independent review commision which was established to inquire into the presidential elections of Kenya that were held on 27 December 2007 [4] and make recommendations for reviewing the constitutional, legal, and structural framework for governing future elections in Kenya. [5] The commission was chaired by Johann Kriegler. [6] [7] The commission recommended comprehensive reforms to Kenya’s electoral management system, including restructuring the Electoral Commission of Kenya or establishing a new electoral body with a revised institutional framework, transparent appointment processes, and a professional secretariat to strengthen electoral administration and integrity. [8] [9]

From 4 January 2011 to 2015, she was a member of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution, where she contributed to monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya. [10]

Legislature

Mumma was nominated to the Senate of Kenya by the Orange Democratic Movement on 16 August 2022 to represent women. [11] [12] She is a member of the Speaker’s Panel, [13] vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, and also sits on the Education and Agriculture committees. [14]

Prior to her nomination, she served in the Orange Democratic Movement as the chairperson of the National Election Board. [15] [16]

As a senator, she has sponsored the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill of 2024 that aims to introduce stricter regulations on the production, sale, advertising, and use of nicotine products. [17] [18]

Publications

Awards and recognition

Mumma was awarded with a Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) commendation by President Ruto on December 2025. [22]

References

  1. ↑ "Catherine Mumma Profile: Educational Background, Career, And Net Worth". 2023-09-11. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  2. ↑ Wamahiu, Maryanne; Baker, Phillip; Dorlach, Tim (2025-05-29). "Generating political priority for breastfeeding and the adoption of Kenya's 2012 BMS act: the importance of women's leadership". Globalization and Health. 21 (1): 32. doi:10.1186/s12992-025-01127-2. ISSN   1744-8603. PMC   12123713 . PMID   40442767.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  3. ↑ Murray, Rachel (2007). "The Role of National Human Rights Institutions at the International and Regional Levels". digital.casalini.it. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  4. ↑ "Kriegler's verdict on elections". Daily Nation. 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  5. ↑ TOSTENSEN, ARNE (2010-01-25). "Electoral Mismanagement and Post-Election Violence in Kenya – The Kriegler and Waki Commissions of Inquiry". Nordic Journal of Human Rights. 27 (4): 427–451. doi:10.18261/ISSN1891-814X-2009-04-03. ISSN   1891-8131.
  6. ↑ "Kenya to get poll violence court". 2008-11-27. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  7. ↑ "President appoints a commission of inquiry". statehousekenya.go.ke. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  8. ↑ Commission, Independent Review (2008-09-17). "Report of the Independent Review Commission on the General Elections held in Kenya on 27th December,2007". Parliament of Kenya Digital Library.
  9. ↑ KAGIRI, ANTHONY (2008-09-17). "Kriegler: Replace or transform ECK". Capital News. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  10. ↑ Kenya Gazette Vol. CXV-No. 73. 2013-05-10.
  11. ↑ "UDA, ODM to get lion's share of nomination slots in Parliament". Citizen Digital. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  12. ↑ "List of 15 Azimio leaders nominated to Senate, National Assemblies". The Star. Archived from the original on 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  13. ↑ OBALA, ROSELYNE. "NTV Kenya: Amason Kingi nominates four senators as members of the speaker's panel". NTV Kenya. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  14. ↑ Nyarangi, Edwin. "Senate approves members to key House committees". The Standard. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  15. ↑ Nyamasege, Wycliffe (2020-08-11). "ODM Picks Human Rights Lawyer Catherine Mumma To Head New Elections Board". Kahawatungu. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  16. ↑ Daily, Nyanza (2020-08-11). "ODM appoints Prof. Catherine Mumma and Ben Sihanya to chair NEB & NDC". Nyanza Daily. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  17. ↑ "Bar owners, retailers petition Senate to halt debate on Tobacco Control Bill, 2024". Citizen Digital. 2025-09-24. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  18. ↑ "All you need to know about the new tobacco law". Daily Nation. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  19. ↑ Secretariat, Commonwealth (2004). Gender and Human Rights in the Commonwealth: Some Critical Issues for Action in the Decade 2005-2015. Commonwealth Secretariat. ISBN   978-0-85092-808-2.
  20. ↑ Kriegler, Johann; Aboud, Imani; M'Marete, Marangu; Mumma, Catherine; Kambuni, Lucy; Aywa, Francis Ang'ila; Borneo, Horacio; Elklit, Jørgen (2008). Report of the Independent Review Commission on the General Elections held in Kenya on 27th December 2007 (Report). Nairobi, Kenya: Government Printer.
  21. ↑ Mumma, Catherine Muyeka; Maleche, Allan Achesa; Oluoch, Jessica Achieng’ (2021-07-30). "Facilitating Legal Aid Through Traditional Dispute Resolution Mechanisms: Widows Access Justice Through the Luo Council Of Elders". Egerton Law Journal. 1 (1–192). ISSN   2789-3421. Archived from the original on 2025-05-27.
  22. ↑ Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXVII-No. 259. 2025-12-11.
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