Miss Faith Simiyu

Overview

I am currently in 2nd year undertaking doctoral research funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, UK. My research broadly looks at the intersection of law and the society within four thematic areas: devolved governance, healthcare, vulnerable and marginalized groups as well as development. Although these are broad areas, my research narrows its focus to the global south, especially in East Africa.

Apart from research, I am actively engaged in teaching the Contract Law undergraduate module at Cardiff University. The teaching in line with my passion to interact with students and the joy of seeing them learning interesting facts about the law.

Prior to my scholarship at Cardiff, I have juggled various professional hats starting with being Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with over five (5) years' in legal experience. I also a co-founded the firm of Simiyu, Opondo, Kiranga and Company Advocates where I was a civil and commercial law litigator at first, and then managed the consultancy/research portfolio later on. Besides that, I previously served as the Chairperson and lecturer of the Private Law Department at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). Amongst my successful fetés as Chair included being part of a brilliant team that pioneered, spearheaded and subsequently launched the JKUAT Law Journal, the JKUAT Law Student Newsletter and JKUAT Law student Annual Mentorship Forum.

I am also keen on community service and therefore contribute to various causes. This includes serving as the resource person of the Law Society of Kenya(LSK)) where I have trained over two thousand (2000) advocates/barristers on Continuous Professional Development (CPD) matters. I also volunteer in the LSK Pro Bono Lawyer Scheme as well as serve as a member of the Equality, Dignity & Diversity Committee here at Cardiff School of Law and Politics.

Outside professional work, I am an ardent lover of photography, swimming and playing guitar. One of my other working projects is creating inspirational videos, graphic designs and posts, of which I am still a budding if not, amateur content developer. Nonetheless, this is a passion that excites me so much so that I also incorporate it in my presentations, whenever I share about my wonderful Ph.D. research as well as social experiences; in Cardiff University!