Olukemi Badenoch, whose full name is Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch, is a British politician and the Leader of the Opposition and Conservative Party since November 2024. She is the first Black person to hold these positions. Badenoch has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 2017, representing North West Essex, formerly known as Saffron Walden.
| Common Name | Olukemi Badenoch |
| Full Name | Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch |
| Age | 45 Years old (as of 2025) |
| Date of Birth | January 2, 1980 |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Politician, Author |
| Current Political Post | Leader of the Opposition and Conservative Party (as of 2025) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Place of Birth | Wimbledon, London |
| Nationality | British |
| Net Worth | $3 Million |
Table of Contents
Kemi Badenoch Biography
Kemi Badenoch (born Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke) was born on January 2, 1980, in Wimbledon, London. Her mother had traveled from Nigeria to give birth, and the family returned shortly after. She later denied being an “anchor baby,” saying her family only realized she was eligible for a British passport when she was a teenager.
Born to Yoruba parents, her father was a doctor and activist, while her mother was a physiology professor. She has a brother and a sister and is distantly related to former Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
Badenoch grew up in Lagos and the U.S.A (where her mother lectured) before moving to the UK at 16 due to Nigeria’s worsening economy. She described her upbringing as middle-class but faced hardships like power shortages and financial struggles. In her first parliamentary speech, she called herself “to all intents and purposes, a first-generation immigrant.”
Kemi Badenoch Educational Background
Badenoch studied A-Levels in biology, chemistry, and math at Phoenix College in Morden, South London. During this time, she worked at McDonald’s and other jobs. She earned a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Sussex in 2003. Later, she studied law at Birkbeck, University of London, graduating with an LL.B. in 2009 and becoming a Fellow of Birkbeck in 2018.
Kemi Badenoch Career
Badenoch started her career in IT as a software engineer at Logica (now CGI Group) from 2003 to 2006. While working, she studied law part-time at Birkbeck, University of London, earning her LL.B. in 2009. She then worked as a systems analyst at the Royal Bank of Scotland before moving into consultancy and finance. From 2006 to 2013, she was an associate director at private bank Coutts, and from 2015 to 2016, she served as digital director at The Spectator.
Also Read: Omoyele Sowore Biography, Age, Wife, Tribe, Net Worth
Political Career
Kemi Badenoch joined the Conservative Party in 2005 and ran for Parliament in 2010 but lost. In 2012, she unsuccessfully contested a London Assembly seat but joined in 2015 after Victoria Borwick became an MP. She was re-elected in 2016 and later won a seat in the House of Commons in 2017, representing North West Essex (formerly Saffron Walden).
A strong Brexit supporter, Badenoch held several government roles under Boris Johnson, including Minister for Equalities. She resigned in 2022 in protest against his leadership and ran for party leader but lost. Under Liz Truss, she became Trade Secretary and continued in the role under Rishi Sunak while also serving as Minister for Women and Equalities. In 2023, she became Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
The former British Business Secretary is the first Black woman to lead a major political party in the UK. She took over the Conservative Party as it struggles to recover from its worst election defeat. She follows three other female leaders: Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May, and Liz Truss. She is known for her right-wing, socially conservative views and opposition to “woke” politics.
Kemi Badenoch Honors
Kemi Badenoch has been recognized for her significant contributions to politics and public service:
- In December 2024, Kemi Badenoch was featured in the BBC 100 Women list.
Kemi Badenoch Age
Olukemi Olufunto Adegoke Badenoch was born on January 2, 1980, She is 45 years old as of 2025.
Kemi Badenoch Personal Life
Kemi Badenoch is married to Hamish Badenoch, and they have two daughters and a son. Hamish works for Deutsche Bank and was a Conservative councillor in Merton from 2014 to 2018. He also ran for election in Northern Ireland in 2015.
Kemi Badenoch was a board member of Charlton Triangle Homes until 2016 and served as a school governor at two schools in Southwark.
She describes herself as an agnostic with Christian values and mentions that her grandfather was a Methodist minister in Nigeria.
Badenoch identifies as Yoruba rather than Nigerian, stating she has no connection to the northern part of the country.
Her father passed away in February 2022, and she briefly took bereavement leave from her ministerial duties.
Kemi Badenoch Husband
Kemi Badenoch is married to Hamish Badenoch, a successful investment banker who set aside his political ambitions to support her career.
They met during the 2010 election campaign while Kemi was running for office. Though it wasn’t love at first sight, they grew close, and Hamish later became her campaign manager.
Born in Wimbledon, Hamish studied history at Cambridge and had a diverse career in journalism, consulting, and investment banking.
The couple married in 2012 with ceremonies in London and Lagos. Now, as Kemi becomes Tory leader, Hamish remains her closest advisor.
Also Read: Keir Starmer Biography, Age, Wife, Children, Net Worth
Kemi Badenoch Children
Badenoch and Hamish got married in 2012 and are proud parents of three children—a son and two daughters. Their youngest daughter was born in September 2019, joining her older sister and brother in the family.
Kemi Badenoch On LGBTQ
Badenoch has spoken against some policies related to gender identity. She opposed a plan by the Financial Conduct Authority that would allow transgender employees to self-identify at work. She also opposed gender-neutral toilets in public buildings and supports keeping single-sex spaces like toilets, professional sports, changing rooms, and domestic violence shelters for women.
In 2019, she chose not to vote on a law that would allow same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. In March 2021, Jayne Ozanne, a government LGBT adviser, called for Badenoch to step down as Equalities Minister. Ozanne and two other advisers resigned because the government decided not to ban transgender conversion therapy. Ozanne criticized Badenoch’s speech on the issue, calling it “appalling” and the “final straw.”
In 2021, Vice News shared a leaked audio recording from 2018 where Badenoch said that allowing men to use women’s bathrooms was becoming an issue, similar to the U.S. Critics accused her of mocking gay marriage and being transphobic for calling trans women “men.”
Kemi Badenoch Net Worth
Kemi Badenoch’s net worth is estimated to be around $3 million as of 2025, earned through her successful political career. Her wealth comes from various roles, including her position as a Member of Parliament.
Also Read: Diezani Alison-Madueke Biography, Age, Net Worth
Kemi Badenoch Social Media Handles
You can connect with Kemi Badenoch on the following platforms:
- Instagram: @kemibadenoch
- Facebook: Kemi Badenoch
- Twitter X: @Kemi Badenoch