By Sr Christine Masivo, CPS
Sister Immaculate Muthoni, a member of the Little Sisters of Saint Francis (LOSSF), is not only a nun but also an attorney of the High Court of Kenya, as well as a legal officer at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, an accredited trainer by the National Training Authority, and a legal auditor recognized by the Law Society of Kenya.
Beyond titles, she is a defender of dignity and a witness of hope, proving that the Gospel of justice does not stop at the altar; it also speaks in courtrooms.
Yet, she presents a calm, resilient, and radiant image, bridging two worlds many think cannot coexist: religious life and the practice of law.
A call within a calling
Her story began not with law, but with a youthful dream of political science. Then, religious formation and norms redirected her path.
Political science, she was told, was too entangled with partisan battles. Law, however, offered a way to pursue justice without compromising the religious vocation, a life she longed to serve from childhood.
In an interview with Vatican News, she laughs when she recalls, “I thought law was the lesser evil, and to this day, I do not regret being a lawyer.”
For Sister Immaculate, law and religious life are not separate callings; they are two sides of the same mission.
“Religious life grounds me in prayer, resilience, and compassion,” she says. “Law gives me the platform to act on those values. Together, they complement one another to bring real transformation.”
Justice with a human face
Every case she handles carries more than legal weight; it carries a human soul, a person sometimes broken, often unheard, and above all, always deserving of dignity.
“It’s not about winning or losing a case,” she says with conviction. “It’s about journeying with people, even those who lose, and ensuring that justice is not only done but felt.”
Her faith shapes her practice. She brings compassion where others see procedure, dialogue where others see conflict, and hope where others see defeat.
She recalls her introduction as “Sister Immaculate, an Advocate” at an event.
“A woman, overwhelmed by injustice and afraid of the legal system, opened up to me because I was a nun,” she says. “I journeyed with her through the legal process, pro bono, until she found justice and healing. This affirmed how powerful the intersection of law and faith can be in restoring someone’s hope.”
Breaking stereotypes
Her dual role has not been without skepticism. Some colleagues in court have dismissed her as “too soft” for legal battles. Some in religious circles have wondered why a nun is “immersed in secular work,” but she has learned to let her results and consistency speak.
“People begin to see that being both a nun and a lawyer brings depth and credibility. It challenges stereotypes of what a woman of faith can contribute in professional spaces,” she explains.
“When I introduce myself in court as ‘Sister Immaculate, appearing for the client,’ the title often disarms opponents, softens tension, and even opens space for dialogue and out-of-court settlements,” she confesses.
She laughs as she recalls, “The main challenge I get is every time I go and log in to the court system, the magistrate asks if I am sure I am an advocate and asks for my practicing certificate number, and says that they are not used to seeing nuns as advocates.”
A new face of evangelization
Sister Immaculate is part of a quiet revolution in the African Church. She embodies what Pope Francis and many religious founders have long urged: to read the “signs of the times” and embrace new ways of serving God and humanity.
Pope Leo XIV has encouraged religious men and women to remain rooted in their charism and attentive to the signs of the times as their founders once did. “Your founders were observant, evaluative, and loving and then set out, even at the risk of great suffering and failure, to serve the real needs of others, recognizing the voice of God in the poverty of their neighbours,” he said.
“Evangelization is not only through preaching,” insists Sr. Immaculate. “It is also living Gospel values of justice, compassion, and integrity through other means. Whether in law, media, or any other field, religious women can and must let their faith shine in their professions.”
Her dream is to see more sisters ministering in law, governance, and professional spaces once considered “secular,” and to see religious life in Africa break old boundaries and shape justice systems with the Gospel spirit.
“I hope to advance my studies in law to influence policies and empower communities on a larger scale,” she says.
A witness for our times
Sr Immaculate’s life is a reminder that the Church is alive, creative, and prophetic when women religious step boldly into spaces of justice.
She embodies the harmony of faith and reason when she carries her rosary beads and legal books, traversing the courtroom and the chapel in both a habit and attorney’s garb.
Her mission, as she quotes the prophet Micah, is “to live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.” – Vatican News
