Chief Justice (CJ) Martha Koome has led the legal fraternity in an inaugural closing of files court session held in honour of seven departed judicial officers.
The legal fraternity honoured Hon. Timothy Ole Tanchu, Hon. Jacqueline Muthoni Ojwang, Hon. Monicah Kivuti, Hon. Zena Atetwe, Hon. Rashid Jalenga, Hon. Bernard Kipyegon Rugut, Hon. Kunyuk John Tito, and Hon. Athman Abdulhalim Hussein in special court proceedings conducted at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi.
“We have gathered this afternoon in solemn unity to perform one of the Judiciary’s most sacred collective duties: to honour, remember, and give a dignified closure to the files of seven of our colleagues who departed from us over the last two years,” expressed CJ Koome.
Presiding over a bench comprising Environment and Land Court Presiding Judge Oscar Angote and High Court Judge Anthony Mrima, CJ Koome noted that each of the officers served the nation with devotion, humility, and integrity.
Further, she stressed that their passing has left an unmistakable void – not only within their families and communities, but within the Judiciary family, which they so faithfully served.
Specifically, the CJ celebrated the late Chief Kadhi Athman Abdulhalim Hussein as a distinguished scholar and jurist whose wisdom, compassion, and mastery of Islamic jurisprudence enriched both the legal fraternity and the Muslim community.
In addition, she noted that his judgments marked by clarity and fidelity to fiqh—combining textual precision with deep human understanding.
“Hon Hussein mentored many young scholars and Kadhis, pursuing knowledge with unwavering commitment until his final day,” she reiterated.
Equally, Koome remembered Hon. Monicah Kivuti as principled, courageous, and deeply committed to her oath of office. Kivuti was attacked while discharging her judicial duties in a tent during the lunch hour, determined to continue hearing cases so that litigants, many of them vulnerable, would not be turned away.
Justice Koome recalled that her killing was not only a personal tragedy but also an attack on the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, adding that her sacrifice remains a powerful reminder of the need to safeguard judicial officers and uphold institutional independence.
On the other hand, the CJ honoured the late Principal Magistrate Bernard Kipyegon Rugut for his gentleness, diligence and compassion, highlighting that across his postings in Bondo, Ndhiwa, Kericho, and Molo, colleagues and court users alike described him as patient, fair, and respectful who listened attentively, decided calmly, and treated every litigant with dignity.
In her tribute to the late Principal Kadhi Hon. John Tito Kunyuk, the CJ celebrated him for his scholarship and community leadership as well as his research on Islamic Family Law, the history and jurisprudence of the Kadhis’ Courts, and the cultural heritage of the Turkana community adding that he contributed significantly to Kenya’s intellectual and legal landscape.
As well, Koome remembered Hon. Timothy Letina Ole Tanchu as a warm, humorous, and dedicated officer whose service in Makadara, Taveta, City Court, Mombasa, Limuru, and Kibera exemplified his steadfast commitment to justice and his empathetic approach to all who appeared before him.
She also remembered Hon. Jacqueline Muthoni Ojwang as a judicial officer who served with kindness, generosity, and genuine friendship. From Kibera to Thika and Butere, the CJ said Hon Muthoni was known for her humility, courage, and wisdom adding that her gentle but firm approach to cases, coupled with the humanity she showed colleagues and court users, defined her judicial career.
Likewise, CJ Koome honored Hon. Zenah Atetwe Rashid Jalenga for her resilience, courage, and unwavering dedication to justice.
The CJ explained that from the moment Hon. Jalenga joined the Judiciary, she brought vibrant energy, optimism, and a deep passion for service saying that her work at the Milimani Commercial Court was marked by diligence, fairness, and compassion, ensuring every litigant felt heard and respected.
“As we close their files today, we do not close their memory. We affirm their legacies as part of the enduring institutional memory of the Judiciary of Kenya. Their service forms part of the strong foundation upon which we continue to build a more accessible, independent, and people-centred justice system,” stated Koome.
Making her remarks, the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya noted that the special court proceedings signified far more than the completion of an administrative process, defining it as a profound gesture of institutional respect.
She added that it was a collective acknowledgement that their contributions to the administration of justice were meaningful, valued, and worthy of lasting commemoration.
“Extending this honour to judicial officers affirms our commitment to recognising their dedicated service, offering comfort to their families, and ensuring their contributions are preserved in our institutional memory,” echoed Mokaya.
Similarly, the President of the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association Justice Peter Mulwa remembered the departed judicial officers for their determination and belief in a just society and a readiness and will to serve and uphold justice in every corner of the republic.
On her part, Hon Everlyne Olwande who spoke on behalf of the Judicial Service Commission honoured the officers for serving the nation quietly, steadily and dutifully.
“On behalf of the Judicial Service Commission, we honour their service, cherish their memory, and assure their families that their contributions live on not just in documents, but in the lives they touched, the people they served, and the justice they dispersed,” reaffirmed Olwande.
Others who spoke at the ceremony remembered the officers for their commitment to service of the law, reiterating that they pursued justice with fairness, equity, and truth while the families of the departed officers thanked the judiciary for its support and honouring their loved ones.
By Michael Omondi
