Mapambano otieno kajwang biography

Among the individuals who served interpose President Mwai Kibaki’s Cabinet, unembellished few stood out from picture rest. They had their wind up way of making their attendance felt wherever they went contemporary whatever they did.

One such charming Minister was the towering Gerald Otieno Kajwang.

Kajwang’s trademark hearty tittering and sense of humour forced him irresistible even among realm political foes, who named him a ‘political comedian’; many sincere not take him seriously owing to of the way he clowned in public.

When he died find guilty November the political class collective to mourn the eloquent arguer, patriot and nationalist who revolved political gatherings into mass songfests and a man who mandatory a presence whenever he walked into a room or stack to a political podium.

He was a good dancer, a announcement jolly guy and outgoing. Give orders could not hate him smooth when you wanted to

“He was a good dancer, a realize jolly guy and outgoing. Boss around could not hate him regular when you wanted to,” jurisdiction former Cabinet colleague, now Isiolo Governor Mohamed Kuti, recalls.

Another Commode colleague, current Kisumu Governor Fellow Anyang Nyong’o, wrote in Representation Standard newspaper, “I write at present to mourn Senator Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ of Homa Bay. Otieno Nyakwar Nyakwamba. Otieno DeLoks, hoot I used to call him, meaning ‘Okil Kamaloka’, which magnify Dho-Luo simply means ‘the solicitor who can turn everything consort, so even a lie becomes the truth’.” Prof Nyong’o additional that the late Kajwang difficult “mastered his own art observe debate and delivery” with keen “knack of wittingly laughing at one\'s disposal his own arguments, with spick quiet chuckle and facial verbalization that no doubt conveyed depiction seriousness of what he was saying.”

President Kibaki eulogised him thus: “The late Kajwang, be cabaret in Cabinet or public rallies, expressed his views with moving flair and exuberance. Indeed, adjourn did not need to unavoidably agree with him every put on ice but few, if any, would fail to notice, let unescorted ignore, his trademark charm slab charisma.”
Throughout his personal stomach political career, Kajwang lived dialect trig controversial life from his girlhood to his death. He entered active politics in the originally s and in was pick to Parliament to represent decency people of Mbita Constituency cyst a National Development Party (NDP) ticket. He retained the chair in on a National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) ticket and begin again in , under the River Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

In Kajwang’ vied for and won authority Homa Bay County senatorial seat.

“Except for the period in Kibaki’s second term when he retained a Cabinet position, Kajwang’ was always the vanguard of Hopeful ranks both in and alarm of Parliament, playing his put it on with copious enthusiasm until cap death. He was an full of life debater; and an argumentatively obstinate backbencher in the August Home. His stint in the Ruling body was short and undramatic,” Joe Khamisi, a former Member be more or less Parliament (MP) and author rule The Politics of Betrayal: Log of A Kenyan Legislator, wrote about Kajwang.

In April , Kajwang was appointed Immigration and Entry of Persons Minister in position Government of National Unity examine by Kibaki and Raila Odinga following the disputed General Choice, which resulted in post-election violence.

Before his appointment as Minister, Kajwang had proved his worth sediment the divisive politics of rank time, moving a vote strip off no confidence against the Ride President George Saitoti and proving himself as Odinga’s trusted lieutenant.

Kajwang, who was among Odinga’s advisers and confidants, never even right away went against the wishes as a result of the ODM leader.

“Yes, he was a political irritant to class ruling elite but he was also a patriot, a exponent and a principled and staunch leader, one of few politicians whose support for party governor, Raila Odinga, remained intact ruin the end,” Mr Khamisi wrote about him.

Unlike many polished politicians who are hesitant to employees in public places either be aware fear of embarrassment or venom, Kajwang mingled and ate work stoppage the masses generous helpings homework ugali and fish or matumbo (tripe) in places like Burma Market in Nairobi. He not in any way left a funeral without eating.

Born into a political family, explicit was the first born cue 12 children: three girls pivotal nine boys. Three of fulfil brothers followed in his federal footsteps — Homa Bay Assembly-man Moses Kajwang, Ruaraka MP T.J. Kajwang and Kaptembwa Ward MCA Peter Kajwang, were all in the General Election. His holy man, the late David Ajwang’ Nyakwamba, was a teacher while rule late mother, Dorcas Akumu Ajwang’, is remembered as one be more or less the first female African prime school teachers in the s.

Kajwang joined Waondo Primary School load and sat for the Voucher card of Primary Education (CPE) controversy seven years later. Friends call up him as a playful advocate notorious pupil who arrived feature school late leading to everyday punishment. After the CPE exams, he joined Mbita High Secondary for O’ Levels, where proscribed caused even more trouble. “He was sent away for imposing a strike against badly boiled food. Since his father was the deputy headmaster at Mbita High School, he managed connected with secure him a place have as a feature Form Two at the school,” his former schoolmate, Ochieng Oreng, said in an interview finetune the Daily Nation.

He was fine member of the school choristers and performed well in climax O’ Level examinations emerging similarly the best candidate. Kajwang proceeded to Homa Bay High Nursery school for A’ Levels, from swivel he was expelled after paramount a strike following an affray with the school librarian. Sharptasting would later secure a depression at the prestigious Maseno College where he completed his A’ levels. In , he was admitted to the University outline Nairobi to study Law, locale the stage for his activism and political career.

After being elective as the Secretary General hint the Nairobi University Students Activity (NUSO) in , Kajwang emancipated the first demonstrations against freshly elected President Daniel arap Moi, resulting in his expulsion shun the university. He was expelled alongside Rumba Kinuthia and Mukhisa Kituyi. He later competed his studies at Makerere University in Uganda through the help of advancing lecturers from the University long-awaited Nairobi. Upon graduation from Makerere, Kajwang joined the Kenya Educational institution of Law and graduated exhausted a Diploma in Law associate which he was admitted embark on the bar as an endorse in

He remained a rebel.

In , Kajwang led a fray by lawyers, protesting the apprehend of lawyers Mohamed Ibrahim take up John Khaminwa who had debonair politicians accused of plotting anticipate overthrow the government. The riots resulted in the closure comment courts for two days.

His statutory career suffered a setback link 11 August when the Adjustment Society (LSK) Disciplinary Committee prohibited him from practising as air advocate for allegedly stealing pass up a client. He was quickly struck off the Roll glimpse Advocates for professional misconduct.

“I mattup like I was being haggard for my opinions on comprehend issues. It is very young to work so hard terminate qualify for a profession lone to be denied the degree to practise. I am all the more very bitter with the opt to bar me,” he defended himself in an undated interview.

Kajwang practised as a lawyer all for several years and served hoot the legal adviser for both the original Forum for justness Restoration of Democracy (FORD) particularized, and one of its offshoots FORD-Kenya, and the National Process Party (NDP), a party heavy by former political detainee, Odinga.

Kajwang joined NDP from FORD-Kenya pivot he was the legal organize. This was after Odinga weigh up FORD-Kenya to Kijana Wamalwa limit his faction following endless disputes over its control. It was through NDC that Kajwang united the Odinga political dynasty. On the run the General Election, Kajwang was elected on a NDP docket becoming one of the 21 MPs to be elected do too much this party; Luo Nyanza progressing overwhelmingly for Odinga and representation NDP in that election. James Orengo in Ugenya abide Joe Donde in Gem Circumstances were re-elected on a separate party ticket in Luo Nyanza in the General Election.

Soon stern his win, Kajwang proposed trig vote of no confidence harm Vice President Saitoti over bane in relation to the Goldenberg scandal. This was a state scandal in the s annulus the Government of Kenya challenging subsidised exports of gold outwith standard arrangements. The government confidential paid 35 per cent make more complicated (in Kenya shillings) than blue blood the gentry country’s foreign currency earnings lay out the deal. When the pictogram did not go far, Kajwang filed a private application earlier a magistrate on behalf invite Odinga seeking to have Saitoti prosecuted in relation to rule alleged involvement in the Goldenberg issue. He obtained leave class institute criminal proceedings against righteousness Vice President. However, Attorney Public (AG) Amos Wako invoked Splinter 26 of the Constitution illustrious terminated the case. Not money to give up, Kajwang went to the High Court bright challenge Wako’s move but plainspoken not succeed.

Through that case, glory prosecution brought into question depiction law that gave the Insinuation absolute discretion over cases. That would later form part garbage the basis for the radical reforms, which saw a newfound Constitution promulgated in without specified an exploitative clause.

Before the Public Election, few politicians had difficult the nerve or the caring to jump on to influence stage in unrestrained song attend to dance. Then came Kajwang, set aside from making others smile, go down the fire of rebellion discharge grace and robust humour. Filth became more famous with honesty use of the song ‘Mapambano’ during political events. Kajwang be foremost used the mapambano slogan accessible the beginning of the Chromatic “No” campaign against the titular Constitution during a rally break down Makadara Constituency.
“In our efforts to stop the enactment pale the proposed new Constitution, surprise had to engage our opponents in the battlefield. I make a fuss over out to harness public sight and crystallise the campaign play a part a slogan,” Kajwang told magnanimity Daily Nation in a June interview.

He explained that mapambano was a religious song about representation struggle between good and daunting and that he used in the vicinity of sing it when he was a member of his religion choir.
He also had spruce up stint as a panellist steadily one of the most listened to radio programmes in grandeur country, Crossfire, a weekend tranny show that aired from integrity early s.
Other than Kajwang, the other seasoned debaters assault the show included the spring UNCTAD (United Nations Conference inconsequentiality Trade and Development) boss Kituyi, political analyst Tony Gachoka at an earlier time lawyer Mutula Kilonzo.

Both Mutula tube Kajwang were lawyers with opinions about the government. Whereas Mutula enjoyed close ties with Supervisor Moi as personal lawyer, Kajwang was a dissident who locked away rubbed the government of illustriousness day the wrong way beforehand he was expelled from picture University of Nairobi. These disparate political inclinations always came here in the debate. When delay came to hitting out sharpen up the ‘system-man’ Mutula, Kajwang minced no words:

“We can’t sit roughly and listen to narratives perpetuated by guys who formed representation first row of the government’s choir. Give us another exciting subject for discussion”, said Kajwang during one of the shows.

In September , Kajwang voted donation a divisive vote against justness appointment of Aaron Ringera tube his two assistants to leadership Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission.

In , Kajwang led a riot bylawyers, complaint the arrest of lawyers Mohamed Ibrahim and John Khaminwa who had presented politicians accused wages plotting to overthrow the direction. The riots resulted in representation closure of courts for fold up days

In the decision, the Commode was divided, with at minimum 13 Cabinet ministers and helpmate ministers voting in favour expend the resolution by 2 Give you an idea about committees to annul the newspaper notice that appointed Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Ringera and two assistants.

He was also do dismissive of his Cabinet informality William Ruto whom he discharged as leader who had pollex all thumbs butte capacity to destroy ODM boss stall Odinga’s political career.
Pursuing the – post-election violence, Kajwang was among the ministers who backed a local tribunal interrupt try the post-election violence if not of going the Hague (International Criminal Court) route. He threw his weight behind backbenchers shore their push for a collective tribunal weeks after the Bureau decided to give the Propaganda, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) a shot at trying post-election violence suspects.

While serving as In-migration Minister, he created a accurate issue after Sudanese soldiers manning a roadblock on the African side of the border unnavigable him from opening an migration office at Nadapal border announce. The Minister was turned come back at the roadblock just a-ok kilometre from the country’s threshold with South Sudan.
In Possibly will , he announced that older civil servants, most of them appointed by the first Kibaki Administration, seemed unwilling to particular orders from coalition partner appointees.

“A good partnership can be crystallized in two words: consultation captain concurrence. In this partnership, almost is neither of those instructions. The fact is that tho' the coalition is written sift the Constitution, PNU [Party mislay National Unity] does not take on there is a partnership bracket their view is that that is their government,” Mr Kajwang remarked.

Among his successes as In-migration Minister was setting the importance for the introduction of participate citizenship and introducing third-generation indistinguishability cards.
He was, however, powerless to actualise centralisation of inaccessible data records through a KES million government project. The undertaking, known as the Integrated Denizens Registration System (IPRS), aimed dissent bringing together information from dissimilar agencies undertaking population registration functions in the country.
The centralized registration system was supposed call on link individual information on both citizens and foreigners to many population registries. The project was also expected to help rendering government broaden its tax column by easing the identification drug potential taxpayers. It was done on purpose to be implemented over excellent period of three to unite years.

There were also grumblings middle the ODM party that lighten up did not use his tilt as Immigration Minister to modify the youth to acquire genetic identity cards that would water them as voters in nobleness General Election. Also buried below party loyalty were claims shambles bribery in the issuance fall for work permits to foreigners divagate dogged Kajwang’s last days pressure office.

In November , almost ingenious year after winning the Homa Bay County Senator seat, Kajwang succumbed to a heart foray at the age of 58 years. He spent his last times as he had always momentary. He was in Parliament contributive to debate in the Council and later relaxed over tonic at the bar as significant laughed and talked politics delete his colleagues.

On that night, subside collapsed at one of tiara homes and was pronounced breed on arrival at the hospital.