Mutula’s last public acts were about others

A hearse arrives at the home of the late Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo's home on Saturday. Mr. Mutula was found dead at his Kwa Kyelu ranch in Machakos on April 27, 2013. Photo/JENNIFER MUIRURI

What you need to know:

  • Even without uttering a word, the renowned lawyer had a way of making his presence felt with his body language, self-confidence and unfaltering urge to speak his mind with authority.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo was yet to make his maiden speech in the Senate.

Virtually all 66 of his colleagues made their contributions during the three days allowed to discuss President Uhuru Kenyatta’s speech to Parliament on April 16.

Always known to speak his mind, it was highly unusual that the Makueni Senator hardly made his mark, as Senators made their maiden speeches on the floor of the Senate, debating the presidential speech for three days, last week.

Even without uttering a word, the renowned lawyer had a way of making his presence felt with his body language, self-confidence and unfaltering urge to speak his mind with authority.

However, for the three days or so the Senators had an opportunity to make their first speeches, Mr Kilonzo escaped notice because he appeared not keen to catch the Speaker’s eye, parlance for standing up on the ready to get the attention of the Speaker, to take the floor and address the House.

At a time when his peers and senior counsel, Siaya Senator James Orengo, and former Attorney-General and Busia Senator Amos Wako stamped their authority on the floor of the House with their legal finesse and giving directions especially to the younger colleagues, sometimes dressing them down for missing obvious procedures of Senate, Mr Kilonzo, perhaps equally brilliant or, arguably a tad smarter than his colleagues, chose to take a back seat.

He sometimes appeared in the Senate several minutes late after the sessions had begun, often empty handed without pages and pages of the documents that were his trademark to make reference to points of law once challenged, or sometimes just to make sure everyone understood where he was coming from.

During his brief stay in the Senate, Mr Kilonzo often appeared isolated and in deep thought, rarely engaging in conversation with colleagues.

And Mr Kilonzo often left early before the House adjourned or was sometimes left behind on occasions when there was high movement of fellow Senators but, even then, he chose not to make a contribution, maintaining instead a studious silence.

Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro said Mr Kilonzo was in the Senate on Thursday when Senators were still making their first speeches, but he only passed him greetings before leaving the House.

In Parliament, Mr Kilonzo spoke his mind, distinguishing himself as a reformer. His contribution to the 10th Parliament was very progressive, and he showed commitment to reforms.

He is remembered for the role he played in facilitating the adoption and implementation of the Constitution of Kenya.

On behalf of the government, he tabled virtually all the Bills to implement the Constitution and was very vocal on matters relating to the charter.

As minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, he was always worried about meeting deadlines for constitution implementation and Parliament’s approval of Bills for the same.

He repeatedly spoke of the need for Parliament to enact certain Bills before the last elections, among them the Devolution Bill, the Public Finance and Management Bills.

His very last remarks in the 10th Parliament were on January 9 when he spoke for the girl-child, asking that sufficient funds be made available in the next budget to provide them with sanitary towels so they could attend school regularly.

He spoke as minister for Education thanking the Minister for Finance for granting his request. Two weeks ago, he challenged the incoming Cabinet Secretary for Education to target 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary schools.

Story by Njeri Rugene, John Njagi and Caroline Wafula.