Residents beam with pride after Maraga picked to head Judiciary

The nomination of appellate judge David Maraga as Kenya’s next Chief Justice has thrust his sleepy Bosose village in Nyamira County into the limelight.

Should he get parliamentary approval and subsequently appointed officially by President Uhuru Kenyatta, he will be the first person from Gusii land to occupy the position.

This has obviously excited residents of the village in Bonyamatuta location, which burst into life with song and dance on Thursday moments after the announcement was made by the Judicial Service Commission.

“We are happy with what has happened. This is surely the work of God,” said Ms Vashti Kemuma, Justice Maraga’s daughter.

“We have been praying for him since he showed interest in the seat,” she added.

Ms Jane Ochengo, the judge’s sister, also described the nomination a ‘miracle’.

“We have seen God’s hand in it,” she said adding: “He is a devoted church elder and we wish him God’s blessings in his new calling. We want him to serve Kenyans with diligence.”

Bonyamatuta is home to some of Nyamira County’s prominent people.

Retired long distance athlete, Tom Nyariki, is just but one of them. The home village of Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama is also nearby.

“I grew up with Justice Maraga and he was a very focused young man. As a community we are happy with his nomination,” Mr Nyagarama said.

Former Mombasa based judge, Justice David Onyancha, hails from Sironga village, also a stone throw away from Justice Maraga’s home.

Many of these elite grew up in humble families and went to local schools.

Justice Maraga, the last born in a family of nine, went to Sironga Primary School.

According to Mr Jared Osoro, his former classmate at Sironga, Justice Maraga always wanted to be a lawyer.

“It’s interesting because no one else in our class had such ambitions,” he said.

Additional reporting by Nyaboga Kiage