Justice Akiwumi served as the chairman of Akiwumi Commission of Inquiry into Tribal Clashes, which was appointed in 1998 to investigate various ethnic clashes in the country.
The late retired Justice Akilano Molade Akiwumi who died on February 14 will be remembered as one of the leading arbitrators and a champion of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in the country.
The former judge, of Ghanaian origin, first joined the Judiciary in 1987, serving as a judge of the High Court, before moving to the Court of Appeal in 1993.
He would later quit the Kenyan Judiciary in February 2000 to concentrate on the Common Markets for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) Court of Justice, where he served as the president until 2003.
But now – maybe – one of his most notable appointments was when he served as the chairman of Akiwumi Commission of Inquiry into Tribal Clashes, which was appointed in 1998 to investigate various ethnic clashes in the country.
The commission, appointed by the late President Daniel Moi, was tasked with the responsibility of investigating tribal clashes that had become a recurring feature in the country in the 90s.
The team was mandated with the duty of investigating the origin and the causes of the clashes, assess the responses and preparedness of security agencies and recommend preventive measures.
Besides Akiwumi, other members of the commission were Justice Samuel Bosire and Lady Justice Sarah Ondeyo. It also had counsels John Gacivih and Dorcas Oduor from the office of the Attorney-General, assisting with the work.
To conduct its investigations, the commission visited some of the affected areas including those in the Rift Valley, receiving evidence and submissions from the public. It finished its work in 1999 and submitted a report to President Moi.
Other notable cases that the judge handled include the matter of Maina Kamanda and another versus Nairobi City Council, and another Civil Case Number 6153 of 1992.
In the landmark ruling, the judge, as early as 1992, recognized that a rate-payer had sufficient standing to challenge the actions of a public body in court, given that ratepayers contribute to the expenses of such bodies.
Friends and colleagues of the late judge eulogized him as a great workman, a mentor and a friend of many within the Judiciary and the broader legal fraternity.
Chief Justice Martha Koome, in her condolence message which was sent shortly after the death of the former judge, said that Akiwumi was kind, generous, courageous and wise, and he impacted many lives.
She said that the judge was also known for enriching our legal framework and also significantly contributed to its development.
“Justice Akiwumi tirelessly and patriotically served this country as a distinguished jurist who was known for delivering numerous judgements and rulings that enriched our legal framework and also significantly contributed to its development,” Koome said.
“His work was the foundation of past, present and future endeavours to anchor values of inclusivity and cohesion in our beloved nation,” she added.
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