Nominated MP Mutula Kilonzo is no ordinary lawyer. Having represented the former president and a number of other platinum clients, the successful city lawyer has now been chosen as the mediator to sort out the bitter differences between presidential aspirants Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga that is threatening to tear apart ODM-Kenya.
Kilonzo who holds the amorphous post of team leader in ODM has been at the forefront in defending the movement at press conferences and has even overshadowed the party's official spokesman, Anyang Nyongo who is the interim party secretary general.
Having known the fabulously rich lawyer since the Moi's days, I was not in the least surprised when Kilonzo won the trust of the big wigs in ODM over a very short period of time not to mention the fact that he is still a Kanu nominated MP… And still former president Moi's lawyer. This last one is all he more fascinating because Moi has on several occasions expressed his disaffection towards ODM.
For one, Kilonzo is a very highly intelligent guy who is very impressive and convincing when it comes to arguing out his case whether in court or in a business deal, but his greatest asset is his ability of maintaining client confidentiality at all costs.
It is as a result of this confidentiality that Mutula happens to still represent Moi and other prominent clients like appellate judge Waki who won his case against corruption allegations and was reinstated.
It is also worth noting that Kilonzo is now representing justice Thomas Mbaluto who is facing corruption allegations. Among his other high profile clients are former Central bank governor Andrew Mullei and embattled Ford Kenya chairman Musikari Kombo (a competitor to ODM-Kenya. Mutula's list of prominent clients who may even be rivals is endless.
Kilonzo once bragged to me once that he has also acted for Kibaki when he was a minister in the Kanu government and he is well known to him in spite of being on opposite sides of the political divide now.
Mutula may not have the experience of mediating but due to the time and effort he has put into ODM so far, not to mention the moral and material support, he is the best placed among ODM ranks to make peace.
Other lawyers in the party like Daniel Maanzo and people like Otieno Kajwang are so partisan and short sighted that the best they can do is to act as alter ego's to the presidential candidates they support.
My bet is that id Narc-Kenya and ODM-Kenya need a mediator in the not too distant future, then that person is most likely going to be… You guessed it, Mutula Kilonzo.
A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.
It is well known fact that Mutula Kilonzo is a brilliant lawyer. His arguments are normally analytically sound, and subsequently he has managed to baffle friend and foe with his intelligence. However, it is highly regretable that a blog that categorically states that only new leadership and new ideas can save Kenya can pay a 'glowing' tribute to such a man.
ReplyDeleteMutula Kilonzo has been in the system for a long time. He has not only cordoned but also oiled the Kanu kleptocracy juggernaut using his wit and brilliance for the detriment of a mjority fo Kenyans. His proximity to power(as Fmr. President Moi's lawyer) enabled him and a calibre of intellectuals to defend and even cover up the massive looting of public coffers by the elite of the previuos regime.
As much as he is a brilliant lawyer, i believe we should desist from gloryfing such persons.
ngunjiri, I disagree with you. Application of Competence is what we need in this country, Mutula is a good example.
ReplyDeleteHe has done an outstanding job representing his clients(which is his job) and I admire his etiquette especially when it comes to client confidentiality.
You can not label such a person as being part of the system. I personally hated the previous regime and voted three times against it only achieving my success with narc, but I will not be blinded by my hatred and not appreciate the brilliance in Mutula Kilonzo.
On the other hand this piece reminds me of Kiraitu Murungi, one of persion I really used to admire before the last general elections....
He just turned out to be one of our biggest disappointedment after all the hard work we put in kicking Kanu from power.
SA
Kilonzo is a lawyer. I don't think anybody would want a lawyer who tells the world about their secrets.... It's like a doctor coming to the waiting room and telling everyone what you are suffering from
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