Justice Dr. Smokin C. Wanjala is a distinguished Kenyan jurist and a serving judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya. Born on June 22, 1960, in Bungoma County, he has built a career marked by extensive contributions to academia, legal reform, anti-corruption efforts, and the highest level of judicial service in Kenya. Justice Wanjala’s academic foundation is rooted in both local and international legal education. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B, Hons.) from the University of Nairobi and a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law. Demonstrating a commitment to advanced legal study, he earned a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Columbia University in New York and a Doctorate in Law (PhD) from the University of Ghent in Belgium. His rigorous academic background provided the framework for his long-standing career in legal pedagogy and scholarship. Before his elevation to the bench, Justice Wanjala dedicated nearly two decades to academia, serving as a Law Lecturer and later as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Nairobi between 1986 and 2004. During this period, he became a prominent figure in legal research and policy advocacy. He was a founding member of the Centre for Law and Research International (CLARION), an organization instrumental in pioneering civic education in Kenya. His expertise also extended to public service roles outside of the university; he served as the first Chairman of the Public Complaints Committee on the Environment (2002–2004) and as the Joint Secretary to the Commission on Illegally and Irregularly Acquired Public Land—widely known as the Ndung'u Commission—in 2003, where he played a key role in drafting the commission’s influential report. In 2004, Justice Wanjala transitioned into the public sector, appointed as an Assistant Director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), where he spearheaded initiatives in research, policy, and preventive services until 2009. His subsequent appointment to the Supreme Court of Kenya in 2011 marked a pivotal milestone in his career. As one of the inaugural judges of the Supreme Court, he helped establish the court's institutional framework. His tenure has seen him participate in landmark rulings, including the highly consequential presidential election petitions of 2013, 2017, and 2022. Beyond his duties on the Supreme Court bench, Justice Wanjala has held significant administrative and oversight roles. He served as a member of the Judicial Service Commission (2011–2016), where he chaired the Human Resources and Administration Committee. He has also represented the Judiciary on the Council of Legal Education and serves as the Director of the Kenya Judiciary Academy (KJA). A Fellow of the International Commission of Jurists (Kenya Chapter) and a member of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences, he remains a prolific author with numerous publications on law, human rights, and governance. In recognition of his distinguished public service, he was awarded the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS). Justice Wanjala continues to be a respected voice in the Kenyan judiciary, characterized by his academic depth and commitment to the rule of law.