Details have emerged about a last-minute call to Chief Justice David Maraga that saw former Presidential Aspirants Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka as well as 22 other advocates conferred with the Senior Counsel title.
A report by The Standard on Sunday, November 29, indicated that the 24 lawyers who were to be conferred with the Senior counsel title were already seated at the Supreme Court Grounds, while the CJ was headed home for lunch.
The last minute call to the CJ was made by Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi after the Government Printer released a special Kenya Gazette Notice containing the 24 names. This call saved the 22 from embarrassment as they were already dressed for the occasion - and waiting upon Maraga who incidentally was heading home.
When Maraga received the call, he is said to have directed his driver to make a U-turn at Bomas while he was headed home.
“I was told the CJ has no role to play in this ceremony,” stated the CJ during the Thursday, November 26, Ceremony.
The CJ made his way to the Supreme Court grounds at around 1:35 p.m.
During the event, Maraga noted that the 24 advocates had treated the courts with respect the way senior counsels are expected to.
“If you were brought before me to assess if you deserve being admitted to the rank, I honestly would admit all of you,” stated Maraga.
The senior counsels included Parkash Nagpal, Fackson Kagwe, Pravin Bowry, Rautta Athiambo, Fredrick Ngatia, Philip Murgor, Albert Mumma, Beauttah Siganga, Charles Gatonye, Kiragu Kimani, Kioko Kilukumi, Wilfred Nderitu and John Chigiti, Abdikadir Mohammed, Kalonzo Musyoka and Otiende Amollo.
Others included Mohammed Nyaoga, former Mombasa mayor Taib Ali Taib and the Sports Tribunal chairman John Ohaga also joined the rank.
Women who were conferred included Martha Karua, Judy Thongori, Zehrabanu Janmohamed, Patricia Nyaundi and Deputy DPP Dorcas Oduor.
The team had been conferred by President Uhuru Kenyatta in July 2020.
