The state has complied with a request by the family of the departed constitutional lawyer Nzamba Kitonga and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to honour him with a befitting send-off for his contribution to the country's second constitution.
"The government has offered full support towards the late Nzamba Kitonga's burial arrangements in honour of his immense contribution to the drafting of the Constitution of Kenya, 2020," said the Interior ministry in its digital communications.
This follows a presidential directive for the State to take over the funeral arrangements with the plans tasked to a committee headed by Prof. Fred Ojiambo.
The Attorney-General Kihara Kariuki, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and Secretary for National Administration Arthur Osiya held the first meeting with Kitonga's first son Ivia Kitonga, LSK chief executive Mercy Wambua and Philip Murgor.
Already, the LSK has called upon on its members to make personal contributions to facilitate the send-off of one its former chairmen and senior counsel.
"Good morning counsel. Please contribute on PayBill Number 880100 Account Number 4618380011 and help us give President Nzamba Gitonga SC a befitting sendoff. Kindly forward MPESA receipt to VP Carolyne Kamende on 0721351969. Thank you," said a text message blasted to LSK members.
Earlier this week, LSK President Nelson Havi had written to AG Kariuki to confer with President Uhuru Kenyatta to request a state funeral for Kitonga.
Kitonga passed away on Saturday, October 24, aged 64 years. He died while being rushed to the hospital after collapsing while attending a funeral at his home area of Mutito in Kitui East Constituency.
Following his death, President Uhuru Kenyatta led Kenyans in mourning the lawyer, describing him as a constitutional law stalwart and patriotic Kenyan with unmatched legal prowess.
“I am deeply saddened by the death of my friend Senior Counsel Nzamba Kitonga, a fine constitutional lawyer and a trailblazer whose successes in public service are finely documented. We all remember and are forever indebted to Nzamba and his Committee of Experts for midwifing the 2010 constitution and for his many exploits as a lawyer of high standing,” Kenyatta said.
The President called his death a major blow to the country given that it came a time when the country is preparing for a referendum to further strengthen the 10-year Constitution to solve some of the challenges hindering Kenya's growth.
As part of his legacy, President Kenyatta has sworn to ensure that he ends the winner-takes-all politics that leave half of the country in a volatile mood after presidential election defeats.
In 2017, Kenya held two presidential elections that left the country divided and the economy badly battered after a bruising pre and post-election season that ended with the handshake between the two contestants, President Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
It is their truce in March 2018 on the steps of the Harambee House Annex that led to calm and return to normalcy.
Their Building Bridges Initiative led to the collection of views from Kenyans across the country on the way forward for the country, events that will likely culminate in a referendum before the 2022 General Election.
Kitonga's burial is also likely to provide a platform for national leaders to make a case for constitutional amendments to push for BBI proposals to expand the Executive and entrench inclusivity in government.
