The respected Supreme Court judge shared the story during a public discussion on May 10, where she reflected on how her father insisted on English being the only language spoken at home when she was still a young child.
According to Njoki, her father believed that mastering what he called “King’s English” would give his children an advantage in education, leadership and professional life. As a result, local languages were discouraged inside the family home.
The judge explained that while she understands Kikuyu perfectly, speaking it fluently remains difficult because she rarely practised it while growing up.
She recalled her father’s strong belief that children who spoke polished English without heavy local accents would have better opportunities in life. The decision, she said, was made when she was only four years old.
Njoki’s remarks quickly sparked conversation online, with many Kenyans debating the balance between embracing global languages and preserving indigenous identity.
Some social media users sympathised with her experience, saying many urban Kenyan families raised children similarly during the 1980s and 1990s. Others argued that local languages remain an important cultural foundation that should never be abandoned.
The judge also shared a humorous memory involving politics and language.
She revealed that in 2007, her father encouraged her to contest the Kabete parliamentary seat after local residents reportedly expressed interest in her leadership. However, Njoki declined the idea almost immediately.
According to her, she felt it would have been difficult to campaign effectively in a constituency where speaking Kikuyu fluently was essential in connecting with voters.
She joked that her father later admitted he may have underestimated the importance of indigenous languages in leadership and public life.
Njoki laughed while recalling how the two eventually agreed that perhaps the Supreme Court was one of the few places in Kenya where speaking Kikuyu was not a requirement.
Beyond the language discussion, the judge continues to gain international recognition in legal circles.
Recently, President William Ruto nominated her as Kenya’s candidate for election to the bench of the International Criminal Court in elections expected later this year.
If elected, Njoki would join the global court that handles some of the world’s most serious crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and acts of aggression.
Her candid reflections have now reignited a wider national conversation about language, identity, parenting and what success means in modern Kenya.
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