Mutula Kilonzo was a prominent Kenyan politician and former Makueni Senator who died under mysterious circumstances on April 27, 2013 at his Maanzoni ranch.
Mutula Kilonzo Bio
Born into the family of Mzee Wilson, Kilonzo Musembi and Mama Rhoda Koki Kilonzo were educated at Mbooni Primary School and Machakos High School on 2 July 1948 before entering Dar es Salaam University in 1969, graduating with a First Class Honors’ Degree in Law. the first in the East African region. After graduating, he established his own law practice in Jevanjee Gardens. He also opened an office in Machakos.
Mutula’s journey to becoming a top attorney began by accident. There was an incident where a relative used a corrupt lawyer to dispossess Mutula’s parents of their land. As a result, the young man, who was 12 at the time, was forced to develop an interest in legal and justice issues. He vowed to one day address injustice. He did so after earning his money through his law firm and buying back the same property that the relative illegally acquired.
Mutula Kilonzo is a tough and successful lawyer who made his first million within eight months of training. He was introduced to former President Moi by Mr Hosea Kiplagat, Moi’s nephew, and was thereafter appointed the former President’s legal adviser.
Whilst serving as legal adviser to Moi, Mutularat joined politics and in January 2003 joined Parliament. In December 2007, he became a member of the National Assembly of Kenya after voting in the general election and winning the Mbooni constituency seat.
As a result of the dispute that ensued after the same year, presidential elections were held, a coalition government was formed and Mutula was appointed Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Area Development. He was the chief negotiator at the meetings held at the Serena Hotel to clarify the aftermath of the post-election violence. He was also the one who lobbied for Justice Philip Waki to be appointed chairman of the Post-Election Violence Commission, or Waki Commission as it was popularly known.
Subsequently, on May 4, 2009, he became. Appointed to serve as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs following a mini-reshuffle undertaken by President Kibaki. While not seen as a reformer as he was closely associated with former President Moi’s dictatorial regime, during his tenure the Senior Counsel nonetheless played a role in passing the new constitution by leading his party in the EU campaign change.
He was Kenya’s education minister until President Uhuru Kenyatta took power in April 2013. Later that same year, following his election victory, Mutula became Senator for the Makueni District under the umbrella of the Orange Democratic Movement in Kenya (now the Wiper Democratic Movement).
cause of death
Unfortunately, Mutula’s time as a senator, the senator’s death came as a shock to many people because he was not ill and was going about his normal activities the day before.
There has been speculation as to the exact causes of his death, people were curious to know more about the former Makueni Senator. But like most known deaths in Kenya, the actual cause of death remained unclear.
His body was discovered in his bedroom, tucked into bed with foam at the mouth. There were also obvious signs that he had thrown up. Detectives hired pathologists and experts from the Government Chemist to examine various samples found in the household, including his vomit and pills. However, it seems that nothing concrete has emerged from the research, except that the possibility of a heart attack has been ruled out and there is a risk of poisoning.
Makueni Senator speaking at a court in MachakosMutula Kilonzo Junior said his father’s death was anything but ordinary. According to him, the elimination of his father, in collaboration with his workers or with people very close to him, was well planned and a heavy cover-up ensued.
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Mutula Kilonzo wife, children
Mr Kilonzo has been married twice in his life. He divorced his first wife in a landmark court battle that remains a reference point for family law students to this day. After the divorce, the lawyer severed all ties with his first wife.
He met his second wife, Nduku, when he moved his law office to Atlas House on Moi Avenue, across from the former US Embassy. Nduku noticed Mutula because he was always well dressed and also napped in his cream Volvo during the daily hour-long lunch break. When the attorney approached Nduku about a relationship, she initially refused to believe he was married, but she later accepted this after he provided her with evidence that he was single and free to mingle.
On the other hand, Nduku was engaged when the two met. She was in a long-distance relationship with a man who worked in the hospitality industry in Mombasa. As this presented a challenge, she was not fully committed to this agreement. Even after accepting Mutula’s engagement ring, her doubts lingered.
Eventually Mutula married Nduku and they were blessed with four children – Muathi Kilonzo, financial expert in London; Michael Musembi, who runs the family’s Tracom Business College in Nakuru; Mutune and Musau, who work in Nairobi and London respectively.
He had three children with his first wife, including Kethi and Mutula Kilonzo Jr. – both lawyers and Wanza Kilonzo.
Lesser known facts about Mutula Kilonzo
The first car Mutula bought was a Datsun, and he bought it direct from DT Dobie, a well-known showroom in the capital. The funny thing was that he had to leave the car behind because he didn’t have a driver’s license.
He studied at the Kenya School of Law and some of his classmates included Judge Philip Waki, who was also his cousin. Judge Joyce Aluoch, Judge Riaga Omolo, and Judge Erastus Githinji were his other classmates.
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Mutual Kilonzo was passionate about preserving the environment and this is the reason why he built a sanctuary where he kept lions. He used to spend up to a million shillings to feed the beasts. He later added two cheetahs, buffalo, a wild boar, leopard, tortoise, ferret monkey, Thompson’s gazelle, zebra, giraffe and eland.
It is known that during his tenure as the country’s education minister, Mutula Kilonzo urged that schoolgirls should not wear “nun-like” skirts.
He came from a very poor background and had to repeat first grade for financial reasons.
Mr. Kilonzo held a special place in his heart for his grandmother, whom he affectionately called “susu” (grandma) before and after her death. He loved her so much that he named one of his houses in Machako’s town “Susu Center” while naming one of the products in his Nakuru farm “Susu Ghee”.
His work ethic is second to none! According to a lawyer who once worked for him, Mr Kilonzo always arrived at the firm at exactly 7am and would not allow any of his employees to stay in the office after 5pm.
He firmly believed that Raila Odinga was the best man to lead Kenya as president in the 2013 election.