UPDATE: Saturday, October 8; 2:00 pm. President William Ruto condoled the family of the late Juma Kiplenge.
Ruto, in a statement released by State House, eulogised Kiplenge as a forthright lawyer, a great legal mind, and a champion of the rights of minority communities.
"The late Kiplenge was a patriotic Kenyan who inspired many and worked hard to make Kenya a better nation," Ruto mourned.
Senior Counsel Juma Kiplenge who represented the late President Daniel Arap Moi in court passed away after a short illness.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Kiplenge's wife, Jedida Wairimu, confirmed the lawyer's demise.
Wairimu stated that the family was shocked by the news.
"He got sick two weeks ago and unfortunately passed away on Friday, October 7," she stated.
Kiplenge's body was ferried to Umash funeral home in Nakuru as funeral and burial plans commenced.
His family and friends also formed a WhatsApp group to aid in the burial preparations of the late lawyer.
Taity Member of Parliament William Kamket, a close family friend, led friends and clients in paying tribute to the deceased.
Kenyans also took to social media to eulogize Kaplenge as a remarkable lawyer who represented Mzee Moi in his personal legal duels.
In 2019, a legal team led by the senior counsel represented the former president in a land-grabbing case. Moi had been ordered by the High Court to pay Ksh1 billion as compensation to a family in Eldoret.
Kiplenge also played a key role in fighting for the rights of the Ogiek, a minority group in Kenya, in the 90s
He is the founder of Kiplenge & Kurgat Advocates, a firm based in Nakuru County.
