President William Ruto‘s lawyer, Katwa Kigen has withdrawn from the ongoing Independent Electoral Boundaries and Commission (IEBC) commissioner interviews.
The lawyer cited concerns over his suitability, stating that he wants to avoid ‘unnecessary diversion’ from commission’s critical role.
Kigen was to appear before the IEBC selection panel today Thursday April 10.
“Considering concerns, albeit unfounded, raised preceding my interview & to avoid unnecessary diversion and controversy in the commission’s huge and important task, I have decided to withdraw my candidature,” stated Kigen.
Ruto’s Lawyer Katwa Kigen Withdraws from IEBC Race
Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi earlier raised concerns about accountability and integrity regarding the President’s lawyer vying for the position.
He questioned how someone who has served the Head of State for over 20 years could contest a seat in which the President himself would be a candidate.
“We have a problem of accountability and integrity in Kenya. Why would the President’s known Advocate for over 20 years apply to serve in an IEBC to oversight an election where the President will be a candidate? Is the candidate stupid or he thinks all Kenyans are stupid?” He posed.
Katwa Kigen, along with former East Africa Court of Justice (EACJ) judge Charles Nyachae, and Joy Mdivo, had been flagged for their alleged ties to President William Ruto.
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Ties With President Ruto
The veteran lawyer was part of Ruto’s legal team during the 2022 presidential election petition at the Supreme Court of Kenya. Kigen played a crucial role in defending Ruto’s victory against challenges from the opposition.
He also represented President William Ruto at the ICC, where he was acquitted.
Senior Counsel Katwa Kigen is one of the most prominent and respected lawyers in the country. He has served in the legal field for more than two decades
Currently, Kigen practices law at Katwa and Kemboy Advocates in Nairobi, a law firm he co-owns with Kemboy, which has existed for the last 21 years.
The lawyer was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 1996.
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His main area of practice is Civil Litigation are Banking, Insurance, Medical Negligence and Malpractice issues, Land disputes, Commercial Transactions, International Trade, Construction and Environmental Law, and Judicial Review.
Others include Criminal Law, Public International Law Claims, Employment, Debt Collection, Criminal Law, Arbitration and Mediation.
Kigen Career and Education
The veteran lawyer primarily handles cases before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Industrial Court, and other specialized tribunals, as well as cases involving international criminal law.
Kigen has risen to prominence in the legal field due to some of the high-profile cases he has handled, particularly representing two of the six Kenyans who were accused at the International Criminal Court (ICC) of being perpetrators of post-election violence.
He represented former radio presenter of KASS FM Joshua Sang at the International Criminal Court (ICC) following Kenya’s post-election violence in 2007/08, leading to Sang being acquitted by the international court due to insufficient evidence.
Kigen also successfully represented journalist Jacque Maribe in a high-profile murder case involving businesswoman Monica Kimani, who was killed. Maribe was acquitted due to lack of prosecution evidence in a case that attracted national interest.
He also represented former Cabinet Secretary, Treasury, Henry Rotich, in an anticorruption case and cleared in the Ksh 63 billion Arror and Kimwarer graft case.
He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (Hons) degree from the University of Nairobi, and a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
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