Former CS Murkomen recalls how late Justice Majanja mentored him

Former Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was among hundreds of colleagues, friends and family members who converged at at Friends International Center, Ngong Road during the memorial service of the late Justice David Amilcar Shikomera Majanja, who served as a judge of the High Court of Kenya.

After attending the memorial, Murkomen penned an emotional tribute revealing his close ties and cordial relationship with the late judge.

Murkomen described the late Majanja as a kind-hearted man who mentored him in his legal career and at a school.

“Justice David Shikomera Majanja (Maj as we called him) was a crusader for justice, an intelligent man with great mental clarity, and a gifted, incisive writer. He was an avid reader, a gentleman par excellence and generous to a fault,” part of Murkomen’s heartfelt tribute shared on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, read.

The mentoring process

The former Transport Cabinet Secretary narrated that he met the late Majanja in South Africa where he went to pursue a Master of Laws Degree.

Being in a foreign land, they quickly became acquainted and Majanja started mentoring him.

“Nineteen years ago, we were admitted to the University of Pretoria for a Master of Laws Degree course, and Maj, being senior to most of us, became a big brother and a mentor,” Murkomen stated.

According to the former CS, their relationship did not end after school but the late judge helped him establish his consultancy firm in the country.

“When we came back home, Maj helped us set up the first office for our consultancy firm, focusing on matters of trade and investment in Africa, an assignment that Hon. David Ochieng Ouma took seriously,” he added.

Their last meeting

Murkomen also recalled their last meeting before he was pronounced dead. The former CS noted that during their last meeting, they reminisced about their time in South Africa and sought to know the whereabouts of their former classmates.

“Two months ago, we had tea with Maj as we reminisced about our past experiences and discussed the whereabouts of our classmates. As fate would have it, that would unfortunately be the last time I would see him alive.”

The High Court judge was pronounced dead on July 10, 2024. Chief Justice Martha Koome broke out the news indicating that the whole Judciairy was heartbroken by his sudden demise.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire Judiciary and JSC fraternity during this time of deep sorrow and sadness,” Koome stated.

“Justice Majanja will be remembered as a towering figure in the development of our transformative post-2010 jurisprudence and a crucial pillar in the institution-building of the JSC and the Judiciary.”

To honour his legacy, Koome told the mourners that the Judiciary would implement all he believed in including constitutionalism, the rich promise of human rights and gender equality enshrined in the Constitution.

The courts will continue to be the last independent bastion of the rule of law and constitutional protection, CJ Koome further stated.

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