His is the most trending name on and offline within our borders. Most recently for being called out by the deputy president for having an ear ring.
In case you are in the dark, Willy Mutunga is the chief justice of our republic, at least until this Thursday when he is set to resign from the corridors of justice.
Many people have a lot to say about him. Some are praising him for the good job he has done over the past five years while the majority have a borne to pick with him especially over the current ‘supreme crisis.’
One question begs to be asked; should we crucify him or praise him? Personally, I am of the opinion that we ought to give praise where praise is due. Like the proverbial methali, mgala muue na haki umpe.
We as Kenyans have a bad habit of always seeing the bad and ignoring the good. Yes, the judiciary is in a crisis but that is not all there is to it.
Furthermore, in my opinion, Willy has done something we seldom see in Kenya; someone willing giving up an office!
You may not know this but the C.J is 69. With the retirement age of judges at 70 and the maximum term limit for a C.J set at 10 years, I personally view it as more of a resignation.,
In a recent interview, he cited the reason for this as giving an ample time for a new C.J to be appointed in time for swearing in the president after the general elections. The process takes as much as a year.
If that’s not patriotism I don’t know what is?
Another thing we ought to remember is that Willy is not the judiciary and the judiciary is not Willy. The quest to provide justice for all will continue even after his exit.
He will go down in history as one of the most unique C.Js. Despite his age, he was and still is youthful in personality.