A court case Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo successfully argued for Mr Hosea Kiplagat, a nephew of retired president Daniel arap Moi, in the early 90s is what changed his stature for good.
It marked a turning point in the sense that Mr Kiplagat would later introduce him to Mr Moi, a move that effectively earned him the title of the president’s lawyer in the days to follow.
But, as Mr Mutula said 10 years ago, he had one condition to meet before this would happen.
“Mr Kiplagat told me that I had to get rid of my goatee before I could meet the president,” he said.
His first assignment came when Mr Moi contracted his expertise in a land transaction he was involved in. He would earn the president’s trust and presided over such future dealings on his behalf.
When Mr Moi was in power, few bureaucrats would have dared touch Mr Kilonzo. During the inquiry into the infamous Goldenberg scandal, the former Mbooni MP represented Mr Moi’s interests at the sittings.
The senator once said he represented Mr Moi pro bono (for free) in subsequent matters but admitted that proximity to power came with its advantages to him.
His decision to be Mr Moi’s lawyer also came at a price; he always received all sorts of threats on his life.
At one point, he got served with a poisoned envelope, with a note saying he would pay for playing the devil’s advocate.
The senior counsel found himself handling one of the biggest jobs in the country when the National Social Security Fund engaged him to recover money and assets from companies associated with businessman Cyrus Jirongo.
In 2003, he was nominated to Parliament by President Uhuru Kenyatta (Mr Moi’s preferred successor in the 2002 presidential elections). Mr Kenyatta was then the independence party chairman.
Mr Kilonzo, a former chairman of the Law Society of Kenya, joined the august House at a time when Kanu had been pushed to the opposition by the Narc government, led by Mr Mwai Kibaki.
He had previously resisted attempts from influential figures like Ukambani kingpin Mulu Mutisya to plunge into elective politics, arguing that this would destroy his legal practice.
While in the House, he earned himself the distinction of being the only Member of Parliament who did not take his salary home. It belonged to the Kenya Revenue Authority, who attached it for alleged tax arrears.
He transferred his love of law to his family as well. Three of his seven children are practising lawyers, although most notable are Kethi Kilonzo and Mutula Kilonzo Jr.
Until his death, the charming lawyer, who never shied away from debating controversial subjects like wearing of miniskirts among school- going girls, was the secretary-general of Wiper party, an affiliate of Cord Alliance, which fronted Mr Raila Odinga against President Kenyatta in the March 4 elections.
His story is that of a herdsboy who fought against the odds to make it to the apex of legal practice in the country.
