Thousands turn up to pay last respects for Mutula

PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI Mr Mutula Kilonzo’s family during his burial in Mbooni, Makueni County on May 9, 2013.

What you need to know:

  • Eulogists describe Makueni senator as brilliant lawyer who will be missed by majority of Kenyans

Thousands of mourners turned up to pay their last respects to Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo as President Kenyatta seized the opportunity to respond to MPs’ demand for more pay.

At a school in Utangwa Village in Mbooni Constituency, thousands of people came in to witness the last rites for a man described by eulogists of every kind as brilliant, firm and industrious in his life.

Politicians, clergy, businessmen, students and ordinary men and women were there.

National good

Yet there were no political speeches as is common with many other burials of prominent personalities.

President Kenyatta described Mr Kilonzo as a patriot, a man who would fight for the national good rather than his personal goals.

“He was a person not driven by his personal interests but rather the national good,” the President told mourners.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the spirit of Mutula lives on.”

President Kenyatta then told off MPs, and lately County Assembly representatives, who have been demanding more pay in the past weeks.

“Instead of asking ourselves how we are going to serve our people, we are asking ourselves how we are going to get more money in our pockets,” he said. Every elected leader should do their part, he added, to help the country grow. MPs want their original pay of Sh850,000 reinstated because, they claim, the Sh532,000 suggested by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission is insufficient.

It was Mr Kenyatta, then Kanu leader, who first nominated Mr Kilonzo to Parliament in 2002. That became baptism into politics for a man hitherto just known as a prominent lawyer.

Mr Kilonzo as a lawyer represented many clients, among them former President Moi — for over 30 years.

On Thursday, Mr Moi was not present, but he sent his son, Gideon, to read his speech in which he condoled with Mr Kilonzo’s family, expressing his “personal loss” of a man he knew for more than three decades.

“Mutula will not only be missed by his family and the people of Makueni, but by all Kenyans” Mr Moi said.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Mr Kilonzo was influential in helping create the Cord Alliance. It was only his body that would be interred, not his service to the nation, he said.

Former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka suggested that Mr Kilonzo’s name be included in the proposed Freedom Corner to celebrate his contribution to the world of law and politics as well as government administration.

As Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Mr Kalonzo argued, Mr Kilonzo mid-wifed the Constitution, which brought in devolution and today’s bicameral House.

But the former VP narrated how Mr Kilonzo fought his infamous shuttle diplomacy within his Wiper Party.

“Some people mistakenly thought that he was speaking my mind (in opposing shuttle diplomacy). He wasn’t. He was speaking his own mind,” Mr Kalonzo told the gathering.

Shuttle diplomacy was the former VP’s trips he made around the world to convince African Union members and other countries to oppose the Kenyan cases at the International Criminal Court.

Highly successful

Former President Kibaki praised Mr Kilonzo’s efforts in moulding Mutula Kilonzo & Co Advocates to become a highly successful law firm and challenged the Senator’s children to keep the flame burning at the company.

Mutula Kilonzo was buried last evening at his rural home in Utangwa village in Mbooni, Makueni County.