Supreme Court judge, Justice Smokin Wanjala stunned villagers at a burial in Busia County after he made a rather odd speech where he bragged about his credentials, success and career.
The judge was attending the burial of Rtd. Justice Lawrence Peter Ouna on Sunday, February 7. He was accompanied by Busia Senator Amos Wako, the area Speaker Bernard Wamalwa, former MPs Paul Otuoma (Funyula) and Fred Gumo (Westlands).
In a video Wanjala is seen staggering while addressing the mourners in Luhya vernacular and showed a cheerful side of judges who are mostly known to have a no-nonsense demeanour.
“I am well learned. I went to university and attained a degree. I also undertook my masters at Columbia University. I learnt English and I am a fluent speaker,” Wanjala said in a hazy speech.
From left: Supreme Court judges Justices Njoki Ndung’u, Smokin Wanjala, Philomena Mwilu and David Maraga in court in 2017
He also praised the deceased saying that he would not mourn but celebrate his colleague. The judge at times paused for long breaks, held the microphone near the torso and moved from one spot to another.
Wanjala was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2011. Between 2011 and 2016, he was a member of the Judicial Service Commission and Chairman of the Commission’s Human Resources and Administration Committee.
Justice Wanjala is one of the most educated judges in Kenya and is a holder of a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B, Hons.) from the University of Nairobi, a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law, a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Columbia University, New York where he was a classmate to former Attorney General Githu Muigai. He also has a Doctorate in Law (PhD) from the University of Ghent, Belgium.
Before his appointment to the Supreme Court of Kenya, Justice Wanjala served as a law lecturer and later, senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi for twenty (20) years (1986-2004).
He has also served at various commissions and agencies such as the Ndung’u Commission (2003), Public Complaints Committee on the Environment (PCC), Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC), Centre for Law and Research International (CLARION) . He is a member of the International Commission of Jurists, ICJ-Kenya Chapter and the Kenya National Academy of Sciences and a renowned author.
In 2012, Justice Wanjala received the Presidential Award of the Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) [First Class], the 4th Highest Civilian Award in Kenya for his distinguished service rendered to the Nation. In 2018, he was selected for the 2018 Albert Nelson Marquis (Who is Who) Lifetime Achievement Award as a result of his hard work and dedication to his profession.
In 2017, Wanjala, former Chief Justice David Maraga, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, and Justice Isaac Lenaola voided President Uhuru Kenyatta’s win in the 2017 General election. Rtd. Justice Jackton Ojwang’ and Justice Njoki Ndung’u, dissented. Maraga nullified the election and ordered for a re-run.
President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses a crowd at Pangani, Nairobi on Friday, October 2020
PSCU
Watch the video (in vernacular)
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