President Uhuru Kenyatta with deputy William Ruto/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 27 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence and encouragement to the family, relatives, friends and residents of Makueni county following the death of Senator Mutula Kilonzo.
President Kenyatta said he was shocked and greatly saddened by the untimely death of Senator Kilonzo.
The President described the late Kilonzo as one of the country’s most brilliant minds, a principled politician and a renowned lawyer.
The Head of State further observed that the late Kilonzo was an astute politician and leader who was immensely popular among the people of Makueni county and beyond.
“It was on the strength of his charismatic leadership that I nominated him to Parliament in 2003. Subsequently he was elected as the MP for Mbooni and at the time of his death as Senator for Makueni,” said President Kenyatta.
The President pointed out that the late Kilonzo was an outstanding performer who served the country diligently in various capacities including as minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan and Minister for Education.
As a politician and as a minister, the President said, the late Kilonzo was a competent, consummate and resolute administrator who stuck to his convictions even in the face of opposition.
President Kenyatta, therefore, said although Senator Kilonzo is gone, his legacy will live on.
The President prayed to God to give the bereaved family the strength and fortitude to bear the tragic loss.
At the same time Deputy President William Ruto also sent a message of condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Senator Mutula Kilonzo of Makueni who passed away on Saturday.
In his message Ruto said he had learnt of the death of senator Kilonzo with shock and disbelief.
The Deputy President noted that the late senior counsel Kilonzo was an astute and dependable politician whose impact in the legal profession and in the democratization of this country cannot be overemphasized.
He said it was unfortunate that the late Kilonzo had passed away at a time when the country still needed to benefit from his immense knowledge and experience.
He was speaking in Nandi Hills where he attended a wedding reception for Eliud Bett Langat and Juliet Chepchumba .
He commended the newlyweds for their holy matrimony saying strong families were the basis of a stable nation.
