Khaminwa has been a key player in Kenya’s constitutional reform process, serving as a member of the Committee of Experts that drafted the country’s current constitution.
He has also been a vocal advocate for human rights and the rule of law, and has represented various clients in landmark cases.
One of the strange fact about Khaminwa is that in his entire law profession he has allegedly never owned a smartphone.
Dr. Khaminwa is married to Prof. Emily Khaminwa, a renowned academician and entrepreneur. They have three children together, who are all pursuing their passions in various fields.
His eldest son, John Khaminwa Jr., is a promising young lawyer, while his daughter, Alice Khaminwa, is a talented artist. His youngest son, Michael Khaminwa, is a budding entrepreneur.
He is a member of the Luhya tribe, a community known for their rich cultural heritage and traditions. He has been a strong advocate for the preservation of cultural heritage and the promotion of diversity and inclusion.
He was born on June 12, 1955, in Nairobi, Kenya. His parents, Paul Khaminwa and Alice Khaminwa, were both educators and instilled in him a strong value for education and public service.
His father, Paul Khaminwa, was a renowned teacher and principal, while his mother, Alice Khaminwa, was a dedicated nurse and community leader.
Khaminwa holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi, a Master of Laws degree from the University of London, and a Ph.D. in Law from the University of Cambridge.
He has also attended various professional training programs, including the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program in the United States.
In 1982 and 1990, he had been detained due to his involvement with activists fighting for multi-party democracy. He was the senior counsel representing former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko in his Ksh10 million graft case.
However, he later withdrew from the case claiming that he did not have all the evidence documents and would, therefore, be of no use to the case.
He accused the magistrate of bias by denying the defense more time to prepare the case and also added the trial against Sonko was unconstitutional.
The senior lawyer was also a part of the legal team which represented Miguna Miguna in his case after the government failed to uphold the court order that allowed him back to the country.
Back in the day, he also defended the widow of SM Otieno, who was a lawyer. The wife wanted her husband buried at their home in Nairobi while his people wanted him buried in his village in Nyanza.