A sombre mood engulfed Mamba village in Yatta, Machakos county, where slain Makadara magistrate Monica Kivuti was laid to rest on Saturday.
Members of the judicial community including judges, magistrates and advocates eulogised Kivuti as diligent, saying she was passionate in her work.
“For over a decade, Monica diligently served Kenyan courts as a magistrate. Throughout her 13-year-legal career, she remained committed to the rule of law believing in its fair and temperate application to ensure equal justice for all,” Law Society of Kenya representative Eric Kivuva said.
Kivuti was admitted to the bar in 2008 and became a magistrate six years later.
The Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association vice president, Rhoda Yator, described Kivuti as a shining light, beacon of justice and pillar of strength.
“Her presence in the courtroom illuminated the legal proceedings and inspired all of us. Her commitment to justice and fairness made a difference in the lives of countless individuals both within and outside the judicial system,” Yator said.
Court of Appeal president Justice Daniel Musinga said Kivuti was a hardworking and dedicated judicial officer who had a bright career ahead of her.
“Those who knew her have explained the virtue of integrity with which she carried herself to discharge her duties. Integrity is a virtue that is in short supply in this country,” Musinga said.
“As judges and judicial officers, we will do our very best to discharge our duties with the highest integrity as the Lord will endorse us with. We won’t be cowed by whatever may have happened because each judge and magistrate swore to administer justice without favour, fear, affection or ill will and lifted the Holy scripture and said, so help me God.”
The judge said they would honour what their departed colleague stood for.
“We pray that the call that the Chief Justice and leaders of the Judiciary have continuously made - that we are given more resources so that no judge or magistrate will ever have to work in a small makeshift court as where our colleague was working from,” Musinga said.
“I hope that the judiciary will be given resources required to improve the facilities so that we can serve Kenyans better.”