Africa-Press – Kenya. It has now emerged that lawyer Evans Monari, an advocate who represented President Uhuru Kenyatta in Hague, penned down his own tribute even before he passed away and kept it a secret with his learned friends.
In his emotional tribute that is to be read out by Solicitor General Ken Ogeto on Thursday, October 11, Monari stated that he was told a number of times that he would pass on but he was not ready to admit it.
“It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. Everyone told me it would happen one day but that’s simply not something I wanted to hear, much less experience. For once I didn’t get things my way this time around,” Monari wrote.
In his eulogy, Monari starts by introducing his childhood life by giving details about where he was born, mentioning his parents and how they brought him up.
“On 20 October, 1962 my parents and the larger Riakumba Village celebrated my birth and I was introduced to all as Evans Nyarong’i Monari, the first born child of George Hudson Monari Ogeto (who left us recently) and Teresa Bosibori Monari. Thereafter, I celebrated the first birthdays of my siblings Ken, Dr. Fronica, Late Lilian, Geoffrey and Dennis,” it read in part.
He went on to state, “As a child, I attended Nyakongo, Kahawa and St. Georges Primary Schools, which planted the seed that eventually led me to becoming a lawyer. Frankly speaking, I really enjoyed reading comics like Archie, Astrix, Beano etc. Occasionally I would play ‘Hide and Seek’ and was the biggest trader of marbles in the neighborhood.”
The tribute cheekily reveals that he decided to transfer his high school because he did not like the school uniform.
“I proudly started my secondary school education at Parklands but I didn’t like their uniform and soon left for Upperhill School where I spent five years. Indeed, I passed my A-level with flying colours winning the coveted best literature student in Kenya before proceeding to study law at the University of Nairobi. Initially, I wanted to study journalism but thanks to my late father who convinced me to study law, something I am forever grateful,” Monari stated.
In his memories, Monari congratulated Chief Justice Martha Koome who he said that they graduated together in the same law school.
“The law class of ’87 where I was the class prefect, was a very successful lot, we even produced the First Lady Chief Justice in Kenya, well done Chief Justice Martha Koome!”
“I will be writing the names of noise makers from this world. Keep our vision alive and remember ‘when I want your opinion I will give it to you’. Being the cheerleader of ‘The Mean Machine’ was amazing, I fully feel you guys, I hear your song … let’s keep it happy,” Monari wrote.
The deceased lawyer further narrated he got married to the love of his life and together they got four kids.
“I got married to my friend and sweetheart Jacqueline Okindo in a garden wedding at the Great Court, University of Nairobi in 1994. We were blessed with lovely children namely: Cynthia Angel Monari-Childerhouse, Michelle Moraa Monari, Joshua Andrew Monari and Jeremy Monari.”
In his list of achievements, Monari listed the outstanding cases that established him among the top legal brains in the country.
“Among my stand-out achievements were my successful defence of the Government of Kenya in an International Arbitration and the role I played in 2011, as the Lead Defense Counsel at the International Criminal Court in respect of my friend Gen. Hussein Mohammed and later joined the Defence of H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta. I was also part of the legal team that acted for H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta during the 2017 Presidential Election Petition at the Supreme Court of Kenya,” the tribute reads in part.
His learned friends managed to raise a whopping Ksh21.5 million in a record two hours during a fundraiser held on Tuesday, October 12.
The celebrated advocate is set to laid to rest at his rural home in Nyakongo.
