Supreme Court judge Njoki Ndung’u has explained why she does not speak Kikuyu fluently despite being born into the community, revealing that her father insisted on English being spoken at home while she was growing up.
Speaking during a public event, Njoki shared that her father strongly believed speaking proper English would help his children access better opportunities in life.
According to her, he wanted them to master what he referred to as King’s English.She explained that from the time she was around four years old, her father discouraged the use of Kikuyu at home and insisted that the family communicate in English.
As a result, although she understands Kikuyu, she cannot speak it fluently.
Njoki noted that her father was concerned about accents and wanted his children to communicate confidently in formal settings. She said the decision shaped her upbringing and influenced the way she interacted with people later in life.
The judge also recalled an interesting moment during the 2007 General Election period when her father suggested she contest for the Kabete parliamentary seat after some people reportedly approached him with the proposal.
However, she said she immediately rejected the idea because she believed her inability to speak Kikuyu fluently would make it difficult for her to connect with voters in the constituency.
Njoki humorously admitted that she reminded her father that local politics required strong communication in the local language.
The moment later became a source of laughter between them because the same parent who insisted on English had unknowingly limited her ability to comfortably engage in Kikuyu speaking political spaces.
She further joked that she eventually found herself in a profession where speaking Kikuyu was not necessary, referring to her role in the Supreme Court.
Njoki Ndung’u remains one of Kenya’s most respected legal figures. She has played a major role in the country’s legal and constitutional development over the years and currently serves as a judge at the Supreme Court of Kenya.
Recently, President William Ruto nominated her as Kenya’s candidate for election to the International Criminal Court bench ahead of the December 2026 elections.
Her story has continued to attract attention online, with many Kenyans debating the importance of preserving local languages while also embracing global communication skills.
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