Bernard Kalove, the lawyer who represented businessman Kamlesh Pattni in the Ksh5.8 billion Goldenberg case, has passed away.
Kavove's death was announced by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Nairobi Branch Chairperson Helene Namisi.
In the communique, Namisi said Kalove died at a Nairobi hospital on August 20, 2023, after a short illness.
"The LSK Nairobi Branch expresses its heartfelt condolences following the untimely death of Bernard Kalove of Kalove & Co. Advocates who passed away on August 20, 2023, and his body is being preserved at the Kenyatta University Mortuary," Namisi said.
Lawyer Kalove was admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 1989 and specialized in criminal law.
In his illustrious career as a lawyer, Kalove handled various cases involving prominent individuals including politicians and businessmen.
Before establishing his own law firm, Kalove was employed in the Law firm of Wetang’ula & Co. Advocates, whose managing partner was the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula.
Goldenberg scandal
During his 34 years’ practice, Kalove was the lead lawyer in the Ksh5.8 billion theft case against Pattni, when he was arrested and charged alongside a former PS Treasury the late Wilfred Karunga Koinange, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) the late Eliphaz Riungu among other former senior officials in the CBK and the National Treasury between October 1990-1993.
Kalove successfully applied for the release of Pattni on bond before the late Justice Samuel Oguk after staying at the Kamiti Maximum Prison for a year.
A former director of public prosecutions and former Chief Justice Bernard Chunga, who was prosecuting Pattni and others had vehemently opposed his release on bond.
Later Kalove filed an application in the High Court challenging the criminal case against Pattni, arguing his fundamental and constitutional rights had been violated due to inordinate delay in prosecuting the criminal case.
In March 2013, Justice Joseph Mutava, who has since been kicked out of the judiciary, prohibited the Attorney General and the DPP from continuing with the case against Pattni.
The case against Pattni had remained undetermined for 20 years running from 1993-2013.
A judicial commission formed to probe the conduct of the then Justice Mutava after the release of Pattni, established the judge was guilty of misconduct and recommended his removal from the judiciary.
