By Vivian Navate
Kenya has not only lost a political opposition figure and five-time election contender but a fighter of justice whose life was deeply intertwined with the Kenyan Judiciary.
From High stake petitions to legal battles that challenged the who’s and who’s of the nation, his fight is an unforgettable one.
His courtroom legacy kick starts at the first major contest,the 2007’s general election. Even though he never filed a formal petition, the judicial system was put under scrutiny for failing to offer credible recourse, a move that fueled critical reforms.
In 2013, judicial transparency was also under the hooks after the courts upheld Uhuru Kenyatta’s win. This is after Odinga filed a petition at Supreme court challenging Uhuru’s victory.
Come 2017, Odinga’s name was etched into the legal history permanently! After once again contesting Kenyatta’s win, the supreme court stunned not just the nation but the world too. It nullified the presidential election, which was the first time ever move in Africa. The whole thing was invalidated through a court process. The then Chief justice, David Maraga, in the ruling cited, ”irregularities and illegalities” that jeopardized the integrity of election. The court ordered fresh elections which Raila withdrew since he couldn’t trust the same electoral commission. This really shaped the latter elections.
In 2022, another presidential contest was experienced. In Odinga &16 others vs Ruto &10 others,the courts were presented with arguments that the elections had been compromised Railas team alleged lack of transparency at the tallying centres and handling of results forms. The courts however found no solid evidence. This case drew the attention that elections should be settled and handled in court and not the streets.
Through out all these court battles, He never turned away from law even when it was not favoring him. He was not a lawyer, but he forced the judiciary to grow and handle cases that it never held.
Now that he is gone, it’s not just the political class and family who are mourning but the Kenya’s courts too, an arena of his fiercest battles.
Believer in courts, An Enigma of Justice
