It began with a forgotten newspaper clipping in a desk drawer.

After deferring two prestigious Master of Laws (LLM) programs, one at the University of Sussex in Human Rights Law, the other at the University of Nairobi in International Trade Law, Lady Justice Murugi Geteria Mugo had quietly tucked away her postgraduate ambitions to serve the nation and raise three children as a widowed mother.

Then, one ordinary day, she found herself holding that clipping again. An advert from Strathmore University for a Master of Applied Philosophy and Ethics (MAPE).

That small moment triggered what she now calls a providential turn in her academic journey.

“I remember pulling out the newspaper advert from the drawer of my study desk and calling the university to find out when the next intake would be. Surprisingly, interviews for the course were ongoing, and I was invited to attend, which I happily did and qualified. Thus, the journey began, and here we are!”

On June 27, 2025, Lady Justice Mugo will graduate with a Master of Applied Philosophy and Ethics, a degree she pursued for the search for meaning, integrity, and justice in an increasingly complex world.

Why Philosophy, Why Now?

It might seem unusual for a High Court judge to pivot from law to philosophy. But for Justice Mugo, the transition was intuitive. Years of navigating complex legal dilemmas in the courtroom left her grappling with legal frameworks and deeper human questions.

“Many questions relating to the ‘whys’ behind the situations in which people find themselves have always troubled my mind, and I found myself wondering whether, in fact, justice was seen to have been done. Because philosophy and ethics go beyond the ‘what is’ and allow for questioning about ‘the why of things’ while pointing out “defects” in human thoughts, MAPE has not only affirmed my interest in philosophy and ethics as well placed but has also given it new impetus”.

Her experience in law had taught her that rules alone are not enough. The soul of justice, she discovered, lives in the space where equity, human dignity, and moral reasoning intersect.

An Intense, Rejuvenating Experience

Studying MAPE was rigorous, multidisciplinary, and demanded extraordinary intellectual stamina. Yet, she found the experience deeply enriching. When asked, how she would describe her experience as a student in the MAPE programme, she said, “Very interesting, rejuvenating, validating, and enriching. Enduring and surviving the intensity of the course has left me assured that nothing is unattainable in this world, when one is focused on a goal and purposes to achieve it.”

Despite the intense demands of her professional role and family life, Justice Mugo persevered. Her strategy? “Prioritize ruthlessly, remain focused, and never let procrastination win”.

“There were times I felt like dropping out, like many of my colleagues did, but I always reminded myself that I have never been a quitter.”

The modular format of the program helped. So did the support of her mentors, whom she compares to Aaron and Hur of the bible, who held up Moses’ hands in battle.

“Dr. John Branya and Dr. Jane Wathuta were to me what Aaron and Hur were to Moses. I would say that the two believed in me when I doubted myself, and I am forever indebted to them.”

Natural Law, Human Flourishing, and Moral Agency

Certain philosophical and ethical frameworks deeply resonated with Justice Mugo. Natural law, for instance, affirmed her belief in the human potential for moral agency and goodness.

“Primarily, the natural law theory and others that recognize the potentiality of the human being to use freewill in a manner that promotes doing good and avoiding vice. Coupled with this, ethical frameworks that emphasize that, the purpose of having laws is to create harmony, maintain peaceful co-existence, in an environment where the quality of life is improved for both the doer of an act and the person affected by it,” elucidates Justice Mugo.

Citing timeless maxims, such as ‘justice must be seen to be done’, ‘no wrong without a remedy’, ‘he who comes to equity must come with clean hands’, she ties the wisdom of philosophy to the practice of law.

MAPE also transformed her judicial perspective. “After MAPE, one cannot avoid hearing the small still voice which whispers the golden rules of ethics, viz: ‘To do good and avoid evil’ and ‘Treat others as you would wish that they treat you’,” says Justice Mugo, while adding that the need to understand the causes behind the actions under scrutiny becomes necessary.

In the courtroom and beyond, this voice now shapes her decisions. She no longer sees laws as impersonal tools but as instruments of moral persuasion and human dignity.

From the Courtroom to the Classroom and Beyond

Justice Mugo’s passion for integrity and ethical leadership extends beyond the judiciary. As a mentor, she constantly counsels young professionals.

“I have counselled several young people on the need for integrity, to aim more for personal growth than a quick buck and to always own up to mistakes and to be accountable.”

Looking to the future, she’s not done yet. “I plan to advance the knowledge and skills I have acquired through MAPE, especially in research.  I have in mind exploring how the Competency-Based Curriculum can incorporate ethics as part of the school program.”

Justice Mugo sees a pressing need to teach children the value of integrity from an early age, especially as digital technology outpaces parental control and moral guidance. In her words, “Encouraging young learners to think for themselves and seek knowledge beyond the classroom is good, but without proper guidance and appropriate moral development, it can be catastrophic for society.”

In her reflections, Justice Mugo returns again and again to the core principle that justice must be human-centered:

“In my view, there can be no justice without empathy, or the understanding of the human being and his God-given capacities and attributes.”

MAPE, she believes, is a way of seeing the world, a way of grounding professional excellence in universal truth and moral clarity.

To professionals considering postgraduate studies later in life, her message is clear. “It is never too late to go back to school, as long as one has the interest and finds a course that resonates with their outlook on life and worldview. Also, with focus and determination, a postgraduate degree is doable and achievable even later in one’s life, career, or even retirement.”

And to anyone considering the MAPE program at Strathmore?

“The course is worth every penny, and the decision to pursue it might turn out to be their best academic decision they ever make.”

Article written by Stephen Wakhu