Former Chief justice, David Maraga is set to receive special recognition more than two years after retiring as the Supreme Court President.
Kabarak University nominated the Chief Justice Emeritus for the conferment of Doctor of Laws during its 19th graduation ceremony on December 15.
Maraga served as Kenya’s 14th Chief Justice from October 2016 until his retirement in January 2021.
He took over from Dr Willie Mutunga and handed over to Lady Justice Martha Koome.
According to the university, the Maraga’s extraordinary contributions in the law sector is the reason for awarding him with the Honoris Causa.
Notably, an Honoris Causa is a type of honor, especially of a degree, awarded without examination as a mark of esteem.
“Pursuant to its mandate under Statute XXX1, Kabarak University has nominated Honorable Justice David Kenani Maraga for the Conferment of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) of Kabarak University at the 19th Graduation Ceremony on Friday, December 15, 2023,” read the statement in part.
According to the University, Maraga was fit to receive the honors because of his extraordinary contribution to the nation and legal profession.
Also, his dedication to the legal profession, as he served for 45 years as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, thirteen (13) years of which he spent as a Judge of the High Court and Court of Appeal and four (4) years as Chief Justice.
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“As an Advocate of the High Court, Justice Maraga served the interests of his clients with diligence and integrity.
As the Chairman of the Rift Valley Chapter of the Law Society of Kenya, Hon. Justice Maraga advanced the professional needs of his learned colleagues with commitment and candor,” university noted.
David Maraga Outstanding Performance
Additionally, the university recognized him as the shield and defender of justice as a general election was nullified in 2017 to protect the constitution rights.
Justice Maraga led accomplished a rare jurisprudential feat in the global history of presidential elections that inspired courage in election courts in the African continent.
“On September 1, 2017, the Supreme Court nullified the re-election of a sitting president and ordered a new vote to be held within 60 days after finding that the outcome of the election had been affected by breach of the Constitution and the Elections Act as well as irregularities,” their statement read in part.
Additionally, Justice Maraga rekindled the country’s pursuit of the ideals of equality and non- discrimination when he addressed the issue of two-thirds gender rule.
On September 21, 2020, he issued an Advisory to the President of the Republic of Kenya to dissolve Parliament for its failure to enact the legislation required to realize the two-thirds gender principle.
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As Chief Justice, he made immense contributions towards completing and consolidating judicial reforms.
Notably, he improved the speed and quality of service delivery in the Judiciary through harnessing technology and defending judicial independence.
Recent Appointments
Also, the university described him as ‘untiring servant’ since he took up another role to serve the country upon his retiring as the chief justice.
“Hon. Justice Maraga’s unwavering sense of public duty saw him recently take on another formidable national assignment as the Chair of Police Reforms Taskforce, tackling the issue of the welfare of police officers, prisons officers, and members of the National Youth Service, ” part of the notice read.
Also, the university applauded him for his Christian virtues and noting that his wise counsel was worth emulating.
“As an elder of the church, the faith community continues to seek Justice Maraga’s wise counsel. Likewise, both the high and the low in society continue to be drawn to the calming reassurance of his moral fortitude, confident that he never turns down a deserving plea for service.
“For these outstanding virtues and contributions, Kabarak University wholeheartedly nominates Honorable Justice David Kenani Maraga, Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya (Emeritus) for the Conferment of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) of Kabarak University,” read the statement in part.
