Mutula Kilonzo

Mutula Kilonzo (2 July 1948 – 27 April 2013) was a Kenyan politician and Senior Counsel, who served as Minister of Education after having previously served as the Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan and justice and constitutional affairs[1] He belonged to the Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya (now Wiper Democratic Movement) and was elected to represent the Makueni County as Senator in the 2013 general elections.

The Honourable

Mutula Kilonzo SC

EBS, EGH
Member of the Kenyan Senate
In office
28 March 2013 – 27 April 2013
Succeeded byMutula Kilonzo Jr
ConstituencyMakueni County
Minister for Education
In office
28 March 2012 – 2013
PresidentMwai Kibaki
Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs
In office
May 2009 – 27 March 2012
PresidentMwai Kibaki
Member of the Kenyan Parliament
In office
2008–2013
ConstituencyMbooni
Personal details
Born2 July 1948
Mbooni, Kenya
Died27 April 2013(2013-04-27) (aged 64)
NationalityKenyan
Political partyWDM-K
ChildrenKethi Kilonzo (Advocate), Mutula Kilonzo Jr . (Advocate)
Alma materUDSM (LLB)
Kenya School of Law
ProfessionLawyer

Early life and education

Kilonzo was born to Mzee Wilson Kilonzo Musembi and Mama Rhoda Koki Kilonzo. He was the second born. The young boy had to repeat class one for lack of fifteen shillings in school fees.[2]

Kilonzo was educated at Mbooni Primary School and Machakos School before joining University of Dar es Salaam in 1969, graduating with a First Class Honours Degree in Law — the first in the East African region.[3]

Political career

In the National Assembly of Kenya in the December 2007 parliamentary election.[4] He was Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development until being appointed as Minister of Justice and constitutional affairs on 4 May 2009. He was the minister of education until April 2013 when the newly elected president was sworn in. He is on record for having controversially pushed for school girls not to be forced to wear "nun-like" skirts.

He won Makueni senatorial race in 2013 by defeating John Harun Mwau[5]

CandidatePartyVote
Kiki MulwaNARC2,668
Harun MWauPICK51,162
Mutula KilonzoWIper193,539
Muthoka KatumoIndependent2,459
Rejected1,544
Vote Cast251,363

He previously served as private attorney to now retired President Moi.[6] Mutula Kilonzo made his debut in parliament as a nominated M.P for K.A.N.U in January 2003.[7] When the first round of the presidential election took place on 4 March 2013. Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the president-elect of Kenya by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. Raila Odinga challenged this in the Supreme Court of Kenya. He was one of the many lawyer assembled by Raila Odinga to draft and offer legal services on the petition. The petition was dismissed on 30 March 2013.

Personal life

Mr Kilonzo divorced his first wife – the mother of Wanza and lawyers Kethi Kilonzo, Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and Michael Musembi a businessman – in a landmark divorce which he was represented by Samuel Kivuitu. He married his second wife Nduku Musau, a daughter of the late Machakos mega-tycoon Musau Mwania, with whom they had three children; Muathi Kilonzo a financial expert, Mutune and Musau.[8]

His first wife lives in Nairobi Riara Estate.[9]

On 8 May 2013, a Eunice Nthenya was granted court order to conduct a DNA test to prove that Kilonzo fathered her a son Jackson Muuo who was born on 5 May 2006. she claimed that they had a relationship between 2005 and 2008. She is a daughter to Kilonzo herdsman Robert Kavita Malinda.[10]

Death
Main article: Death of Mutula Kilonzo

Kilonzo died at his farm bordering Maanzoni lodge on Mombasa road Machakos County on 27 April 2013.

Investigations into Senator Mutula Kilonzo's death have ruled out a heart attack and have narrowed down to a likelihood of poisoning. Massive internal bleeding and a finding that all his internal organs were intact was a pointer to the presence of a toxin. An examination of the body had revealed that both the arteries and the heart had not been ruptured as is normally the case when one suffers a heart attack, the source said.[11]

The postmortem examination was conducted by seven doctors, led by the chief government pathologist, Dr Johansen Oduor and his colleague Dr Dorothy Njeru at the Lee Funeral Home in Nairobi. British pathologist Calder Ian Maddison flew to Kenya at the family's request and took part in the examination. The exercise was witnessed by Machokos senator Johnstone Muthama, family doctor Luke Musau and Dr Emily Rogena. Others were Dr Frederick Okinyi government pathologist of Machakos where he died, and family forensic pathologist Andrew Kanyi Gachie.[12][13]

He was buried on 9 May at his home in Woyani village, Utangwa location, Makueni County in line with his wishes. A requiem mass was held on 8 May at the Nairobi Baptist Church.[14]

Legacy

Mwaki Foundation which he said he founded in 2007 for his philanthropic efforts.[15][16]

References
  1. "Kibaki names new justice minister", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 4 May 2009.
  2. Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development Mutula Kilonzo of Kenya. acc date 6 May 2013.
  3. "Decision Times Kenya: About The Late Hon Mutula Kilonzo - Quick Facts". Decision Times Kenya. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  4. Members Of The 10th Parliament Archived 16 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Parliament of Kenya. Accessed 19 June 2008.
  5. IEBC. "Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission". www.iebc.or.ke. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  6. Kenya: High court to hear petition against Moi http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/BBAB/lib00590,0F98E5B530E8CB7C.html
  7. Mudavadi Declines Kanu Nomination to Parliament, http://www.accessmylibrary.com/premium/0286/0286-5672892.html
  8. "Money, land and power: The secret life of Mutula". Daily Nation. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  9. "Money, land and power: The secret life of Mutula". Daily Nation. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  10. Woman want inheritance for Mutula son. The star. acc date 8 May 2013 Archived 7 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Experts seek poison clues in Mutula case". Daily Nation. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  12. Experts’ word after 8-hour postmortem examination. Standaard Media. acc date 6 May 2013. ALLY JAMAH and CYRUS OMBATI
  13. Mutula cause of death a mystery until July. Capital FM. LORDRICK MAYABI. acc date 6 May 2013
  14. Mutula Kilonzo laid to rest. Daily Nation 9 May 2013
  15. Money, land and power: The secret life of Mutula. Daily Nation. acc date 6 May 2013
  16. Mwaki foundation[www.mwakifoundation.org]
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