Raila, Kibaki mourn shrewd, brilliant lawyer

By Standard Reporter and PPS

NAIROBI, KENYA: Former President Mwai Kibaki and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have sent condolences to the family, relatives and friends of departed Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo. Kibaki said Kenya has lost an outstanding leader, resilient politician and a shrewd lawyer.

He pointed out that as a testimony of his commitment to the national good, Mutula, played a pivotal role in realisation of the new Constitution.

“Indeed, I will forever cherish the time we worked together with Mutula when he was minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs in the realisation of the new Constitution,” the former President said.

Raila said the cruel hand of death had once again handed the country deep pain at a trying time.

“I join the family and friends in mourning Honourable Mutula, one of the most brilliant sons of this nation,” Raila said in a statement.

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He said in the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), they had lost a rare legal and political mind that would be hard to replace.

“CORD will certainly miss Honourable Mutula’s capacity to think out of the box and to make simple issues that are otherwise extremely complex,” said Raila.

He added: “We have lost a leader not shy to speak the truth, however, bitter, who was ready to state what the law says, even if that rubbed the wrong way.”

Raila said at a time Kenya is going through a rare moment in its history replete with immense legal and political challenges, the country needed Mutula’s brilliance, open-mindedness and ability to reach out to others of divergent opinion.

“We stand with the family, the people of Mbooni he represented in the Tenth Parliament, those of Makueni whom he was to represent in the Senate, and the people of Kenya at this difficult moment,” said Raila.

Attorney General Githu Muigai said he learnt with great shock the passing on of Mutula. Mr Githu said Mutula was a brilliant lawyer, who dedicated great part of his distinguished career to the service of the law and the legal profession.