NAIROBI, KENYA: Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo, who died yesterday aged 65, was a man of all seasons. A family man, sharp lawyer, effective Government minister and outspoken politician, who did not shy away from courting controversy.
Although initially viewed a conservative, Mutula, as Justice Minister, in 2010 championed the crusade for enactment of a new Constitution.
During his stint in elective politics, he distinguished himself as one who dared to speak out his mind no matter how unpopular his views were.
Such was the combativeness of the man, who kept lions at his rural home that it did not matter to him who was on the receiving end of his sharp tongue.
His knack to clash with his party notwithstanding the fact he was the secretary general and advocating strong views on subjects otherwise considered taboo saw him cut an image of a hardliner and rabble-rouser.
However the courage to stand by his principles is a virtue that, we believe, many politicians could learn from him. The death of Mutula, considered among the crème de crème of the country’s legal fraternity, is also a blow to the profession.
A senior counsel, he had served as an advocate of the High Court since 1975, a year after graduating from the University of Dar-es-Salam with a First Class honours law degree.
Undoubtedly, he has contributed to the development of jurisprudence by authoring several publications. We pray that God gives strength to his family and friends through this time of mourning. May God rest his soul in eternity peace.
