President Uhuru Kenyatta and Former premier Raila Odinga has joined Kenyans in mourning retired Chief Justice Evans Gicheru who passed away on Saturday December 26th.
In a statement on Saturday, current Chief Justice David Maraga confirmed the news about Gicheru’s death.
“I am deeply saddened to announce the demise of retired Chief Justice Evans Gicheru which occurred this morning. On behalf of the Judiciary, the JSC and on my own behalf, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to his family for this painful loss. May the Almighty God grant them courage and fortitude to bear the tragedy.” read the statement
President Uhuru Kenyatta described the fallen Chief Justice as a great legal mind who served Kenya tirelessly.
“It is sad that we have lost one of the greatest legal minds we have had in our country. Justice Gicheru worked tirelessly during his time at the helm of the Judiciary to ensure that the country’s democracy continued to thrive,” he said
In his condolence message, Odinga eulogised Gicheru as a great legal mind and the man on whose shoulders was placed the burden of returning the country to the Rule of Law after the 2002 transition.
“I remember Rtd Chief Justice Evans Gicheru as a great legal mind and the man on whose shoulders we placed the burden of returning the country to the Rule of Law after the 2002 transition. He did his best under difficult circumstances. My thoughts and prayers are with his family” read the post on twitter
Gicheru was appointed CJ by retired president Mwai Kibaki upon his election in 2003.
He served as the 12th chief justice of the Republic of Kenya and had the longest term by any African CJ in Kenya’s history, from 2003 before retiring in 2011.
Prior to his role as a Chief Justice, Gicheru worked as a District officer in Wajir then later worked as a senior State Counsel in the office of the Attorney General and as an administrative officer in the office of the President, before joining the Judiciary as a Judge of the High Court in 1982.
