'I Will Not Cry For You Mutula, I Will Celebrate' - Kethi Kilonzo's Tribute To Her Dad, Mutula Kilonzo.

Kethi Kilonzo

I must but shed a tear when I remember your life

A life full of purpose and commitment.

You taught us that a man must stand up for what he believes in.

You taught us that the struggle for liberty is one that must continue.

You were a mentor for young minds in Kenya

Young Kenyans will remember you fondly Mutula.

                                They’ll remember that you were

                                                    the epitome of success in legal practice

They will remember that you led the way in embracing diversity and change.

I celebrate you Mutula and pledge that your death will not be in vain.

Your death teaches us that we are not yet free.

Your death teaches us that the struggle is on .

 And we shall honour your life by ensuring that freedom is safeguarded and bequeathed to coming generations.

I am glad I knew you Mutula.

My life was influenced positively because you lived.

Kethi Kilonzo - Loving Daughter

DNA Samples To Be Extracted From The Late Mutula's Body - High Court Orders

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 8-The High Court has now ordered for DNA samples to be extracted from the body of the late Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo following an application by a woman who claims paternity for her seven-year-old son.

 

Justice Luka Kimaru has ordered that samples be taken to determine parenthood after Eunice Nthenya through the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) filed the case at the Milimani Law courts.

Nthenya who identifies herself in the suit papers as the daughter of the late Kilonzo’s herdsman claims that the deceased is the father of her son Jackson Muuo who was born on May 5, 2006.

She claims that she was in a relationship with the late lawyer between 2005 and 2008.

The High Court has now ordered that the DNA samples be extracted before the late Kilonzo is buried at his Mbooni home on Thursday. 

The late senator was found dead at his Maanzoni home on April 27.

Pathologists are yet to release results of the late Kilonzo’s postmortem conducted last Tuesday.

Pathologists who conducted the postmortem at the Lee Funeral Home said that it will take them between eight to 10 weeks to make a conclusive finding.

Government Spokesman Muthui Kariuki told Capital FM News on Tuesday that President Uhuru Kenyatta who is expected back from a London trip is expected to attend the late Kilonzo’s funeral.

Courtesy of Capital FM News  

Chief Justice Willy Mutuga: My Tribute To Mutula Kilonzo

By Chief Justice Willy Mutunga

 

I first met Mutula in July 1973 when I enrolled to read for my Master of Laws degree in the Faculty of Law, University of Dar es Salaam. 

Mutula was in his third and final year of study for his Bachelor of Laws degree. I quickly found out he was one of the outstanding students in his class. Dar was a place for hard work, but this did not stop us, the Kenyan students in Dar, from posing for pretty photographs that were carried in the print media in one of the many media pieces on Mutula. We also welcomed him back in Dar after his marriage in December 1973. We were overjoyed and Mutula wore the coat of his wedding suit for the occasion!

Mutula wrote his exams in March 1974 and before leaving for Kenya, he gave me a telephone number of his relative with a request that I relay his examination results as soon as they were out. I was very proud as a Kenyan to communicate his record-breaking academic feat when Mutula became the first East African to obtain a first-class degree in law in the history of the Faculty of Law, University of East Africa, Dar es Salaam. 

Mutula co-authored a brilliant dissertation with George Masese, his classmate and now a practising Advocate in Kisii as third year student. They wrote on peasants and the co-operative movement in Kenya using a Marxist-Leninist methodology. I have always believed that at Dar, Mutula came to understand how the capitalist system works. He used his brilliant faculties to prove that Marx and Lenin were right in how that system worked! And how that system, if well understood, could enrich lawyers, too!

I saw a lot of Mutula while he was at the Kenya School of Law, but saw more of him when employed by the firm of Kakuli & Mati Advocates. I had worked for this firm before I went for further studies in Dar. 

He worked very hard and soon set up his firm. Mutula was always focused and worked hard to achieve his goals. I had occasion to do some briefs for Mutula when I was not teaching law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Nairobi. There were many closures of the university in those days. 

Mutula was kind enough to loan me Ksh10,000 to help me buy a sports Mazda car, which I paid back by undertaking legal briefs for him. At some point, we thought we could be legal partners, but I chose the path of the academy and activism. Although our political paths were distinctly different, we remained friends and deeply respected each other’s political positions.

There is one act of humanity Mutula carried out which I will never forget. Upon my release from detention on October 20, 1983, he sought me out, gave me some money and quickly facilitated the renewal of my practising certificate as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

He was then the President of the Law Society of Kenya. I got my certificate and in January 1984, I was a sub-tenant of one of my close friends and former student, Joe Nzioka. I had a means of livelihood, thanks to these two friends. As a freed detainee, I was shunned by many, but Mutula did what a friend should always do, help friends in need. I am sure there were possible political consequences for his action, but that did not deter him at all.

Mutula will also be remembered for his focused stewardship as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya in 2010. He stood out as a brilliant interpreter of the Constitution and courageously guided its implementation through his legal advice. He worked tirelessly on drafting the various statutes that were the core to the implementation of the new Constitution.

Mutula gave me tremendous support when I assumed the Office of the Chief Justice. He supported the Judiciary in its assertion of independence. He attended the launch of the Judiciary Transformation Framework and supported its implementation. Mutula never missed any of our functions at the Judiciary, that in itself signalling a lot of political goodwill from the Ministry of Justice. 

He played a pivotal role in setting up the National Council for the Administration of Justice, the assembly line for the justice sector in Kenya. Both of us were clear that when it comes to national matters, there was the need for robust independence of institutions but a constructive inter-dependence between them to achieve goals in the national interest.

Mutula was honest and outspoken on issues of justice and law. I admired his courage, which gave all of us in the Judiciary extra energy to carry out our transformation.

Mutula is one of the pioneers of the African Bar in Kenya, whose brilliance, professionalism and practice will remain a beacon to aspiring lawyers.

I saw a lot of Mutula during the presidential petition. He was one of the lawyers in the CORD team. One of the observers in that petition was his classmate in Dar, the Chief Justice of Tanzania, His Lordship Mohammed Chande Othman. Their reunion was a great occasion. I also saw him at the funeral of Mrs Ruth Waki on April 18, 2013 when, in his usual candour, he criticised the Supreme Court. His death nine days later was a great shock to me.

I send my heartfelt and sincere condolences to his family, the people of Makueni who elected him to the Senate, his many friends in Kenya and abroad.

May the Almighty Allah rest his soul in eternal peace.

Mutula Kilonzo Set For Burial – The Burial Arrangements.

The Late Mutula Kilonzo

A requiem mass for the late Makueni County Senator Hon. Mutula Kilonzo is organized this morning Wednesday 8^TH May, 2013, to take place at the Nairobi Baptist Church. This will present an opportunity to those people who may not make it to Mbooni to have an opportunity and chance to pay their last respects to the late fallen Makueni lawmaker.

The convoy transporting the body of the late Senator is expected to leave Lee Funeral Home on Thursday morning for the final resting place at Mbooni. Over 10,000 people from Makueni County alone are expected to attend the funeral service at Kikima Secondary School in Mbooni before Mr. Kilonzo’s Burial at his Woyani home.

There are some constraints at the burial site therefore, everyone is invited for the Funeral Service (at Kikima Secondary School), but it is only close family, friends and relatives who will access the grave site at 2pm as mutual is laid to rest.

The Kenyan Government Spokesman Muthui Kariuki has confirmed that President Uhuru Kenyatta is scheduled to attend the late Mutual’s Funeral in Mbooni after he returns from his London trip on Wednesday.

Mutula wa Kilonzo — My Story

By: Tom Hollum

When Mzee Wilson Kilonzo Musembi and Mama Rhoda Koki Kilonzo had their second baby 56 years ago and named him Mutula, little did they know that the young boy who had to repeat class one for lack of fifteen shillings in school fees, would be a successful lawyer and legal advisor to Kenya’s president.

Mutula’s turning point came one afternoon when he was twelve years old. He returned home from school to find his parents and grandmother in tears because the area chief, David Musyoka, had brought a judge to demarcate the Musembi’s family land. “Then I didn’t know the difference between a judge and a magistrate,” Mutula says. “When I asked what was happening, an uncle told me that the chief wanted the judge to mark off my parents’ land for him.”

This incident happened during the same period that his father was having a land succession problem with his stepbrother. Mutula’s grandfather, who was polygamous, had the land shared equally among his wives — a decision that Mzee Musembi’s stepbrothers never agreed with. Consequently, one of them unilaterally decided to reallocate himself a section of Mzee Musembi’s land.

“At that age, I still could not understand how someone could just disregard all the traditional and cultural norms and take our land,” Mutula says. “I made a decision there and then to study law in order to understand the reasoning that judge had used to give away our land.”

President Moi Condoles Mutula Kilonzo's Family

The Former President, Damiel Toroitich Arap Moi has visited and condoled the family of the late Makueni Senator: The Late Hon. Mutula Kilonzo.

He is one amongst a group of other world dignitaries who have visited the home of the fallen Kenyan Law Maker turned Senator.

Real Events That Lead To Hon. Mutula Kilonz'o Death

According to a housekeeper who found Mutula’s body in his bedroom, the politician arrived at the farm house about 2pm and appeared okay. The late Senator retreated to his bedroom after having his favorite meal of Githeri and roast meat at 7pm. A worker who

did not wish to be named said his boss was in a jovial mood when he arrived home driving himself: “He parked the vehicle at the parking bay and walked into the house after greeting us.” Sources said the late Mutula usually showed up for his breakfast between 9.30 and 10.30 whenever he is on the farm. 

But on Saturday he did not, prompting his long-serving cook to go and wake him up. The aged cook said he knocked on his boss’ door several times without reply. He then turned on the door’s handle and went in: “He appeared deeply asleep with a lot of foam coming from his mouth,” he said adding that he immediately called for the farm manager. The manager then called Mutula’s son Mutula Kilonzo Junior and a brother in law, Chris Musau, who were the first to arrive at the scene. 

Police officers led by Machakos Deputy OCPD Wambugu and DCIO Kavete Kuloba visited the homestead after being informed by the late minister’s family. He was the only one in the main house, as the rest of the family was said to be in his Muthaiga home, in Nairobi According to the police, the deceased had vomited on his bathroom sink, a pointer to the fact that he woke up at some point to vomit and went back to sleep. A leading Nairobi based medical practitioner who did not want to be named explained that The cause of death is difficult to determine without a physical examination. “Right now the best way to find out the cause is to wait for postmortem examination. There are many things which need to be evaluated before commenting on the cause”. said the doctor “But I can say that the house help’s narration that the Hon Senator was Frothing in the mouth happens mostly in poisoning and drug over dosages because of the piled up secretions in the airway and aspiration. The prior vomiting could have led to dehydration” the doctor added.

“A Post Mortem report will be able to confirm the cause of his death” the doctor concluded. Pathologists led by Chief Government pathologist, Dr Johansen Oduor performed preliminary examination on the body before removing and taking it to Nairobi’s Lee Funeral Home.

Rest In Peace Hon. Mutula Kilonzo. It is only God who knows why u had to depart at such speed, without any notice. Kenyans loved You but God loved you most. Go in peace till we meet again.

About The Late Hon Mutula Kilonzo - Quick Facts

Born in July, 1948.

Educated at Mbooni Primary School and Machakos High School

1969: Graduated with a First Class honours degree in Law from University of Dar-es-Salaam. Being the first in East Africa to have a First Class in Law.

1975: Established Kilonzo and Company Advocates. Earned his first million within eight months of practise.

He became Former President Moi's legal adviser after being introduced by Hosea Kiplagat, Moi's nephew.

For a long time he believed that Kenyan politics had very little room for independent-minded people. Declined KANU's offer for a political seat in 1992 and 1997. He later accepted the party's nomination to parliament in January 2003 and became KANU Shadow Justice Minister.

He had also served as a minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development until being appointed in the docket of Justice and Constitutional affairs on May 4, 2009 and later on minister for Education.

Mutula Kilonzo was married and had seven Children.
Three of the children, including Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. and Kethi Kilonzo, have been his practising associates.