Lawyer Muthomi Thiankolu may be new to making headlines. But he has already made a name for himself in legal circles.
This follows his involvement in politico-legal disputes such as the BBI case and the 2022 presidential election petition.
Born 44 years ago in Meru county, Thiankolu's young parents parted ways soon after his birth.
They, however, both played their part in raising him.
As a result of the separation, Thiankolu spent most of his childhood with his maternal and paternal grandparents and great-grandmother, most of whom lived in mud-walled and grass-thatched huts.
His journey to becoming a lawyer was not straightforward. He was initially admitted to study mechanical engineering at the University of Nairobi only for him to change his mind after admission.
Thiankolu says his talents were not compatible with engineering.
"I applied for an interfaculty transfer to the faculty of law and luckily, the dean's committee approved my transfer request. Upon transfer, I happily found my true calling and I have been dedicated to it ever since," the lawyer told the Star during an interview.
Like most children born in rural Kenya in the early 1980s, Thiankolu made his own toys, hosted vermin such as lice and jiggers, walked barefoot to school and occasionally slept hungry due to lack of food.
The typical villager was poor but this did not stop the villagers from sharing genuine and strong bonds of love, loyalty and affection. Raising children was a communal affair.
Discipline (then invariably understood as corporal punishment) was collectively administered and enforced by peers, parents, relatives, neighbours and anyone older than the recipient.
"All children, the rich and the poor, attended the public school. They also attended the same public hospital, public dispensary or public health centre," he says.
Thiankolu, who has 17 years in law is one of Kenya’s leading legal minds.
However, prior to studying law, he never knew what he wanted to become. Part of him wanted to become a doctor another part wanted a career in the academia while the other had a dalliance with engineering.
"This confusion was attributable to the fact that I was a balanced student who was good in arts and the sciences. Law was the only natural and ‘in vogue’ alternative for me since I lacked the cluster points required for medical school. It was also an attractive alternative as it resonated with my love for drama, poetry and public speaking," he says.
Thiankolu says he has handled many less-publicised cases that have made enormous contributions to the development of the law.
He praised the Judiciary for its tremendous improvement since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution. However, there is room for further improvement.
"To illustrate the disparity between the terms of service for magistrates and those of judges is legally and morally untenable (because they do the same work) and should be resolved. In addition, the ratio of judges and magistrates to the population is still far below internationally accepted levels," Thiankolu says.
He says save for big towns and cities, our courtroom infrastructure is inadequate, obsolete, broken and decrepit.
"The Kenyan legal system is built on a colonial superstructure, which makes it too alien and at odds with local customs, taboos, beliefs, values and aspirations," the lawyer says.
He says judicial reforms in Kenya require adequate budgetary support and allocation, which, regrettably, Parliament is traditionally unwilling to make.
On his social life, Thiankolu says regrettably, the exigencies of professional duty often impose huge opportunity costs on him.
However, he tries to maintain a semblance of a social life by cherishing moments he spends with his wife and three children who give him immeasurable joy and fulfilment.
Back in the day, before the hustles of life overwhelmed him, he would scribble a romantic poem to the object of his affection.
"When I can, I listen to country music and attend friends’ or relatives' social functions. Some of them insist that I speak at such functions even when I have nothing valuable to say," he says.
He says his future ambitions are confused right now but politics is not his thing.
Thiankolu is not too enthusiastic about business (my law firm partner says I am generous to a fault and lack an entrepreneurial mindset).
"There was a time, many moons ago, when I thought I would make a good superior court judge. Some friends say I would make a good Attorney General or Chief Justice, but I lack the political savviness required to rise to such lofty offices. In short, I do not know what the future holds," he says.
The lawyer is currently a senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi's Faculty of Law, with 13 years of teaching and research experience.
His core professional competencies are in dispute resolution and legal consultancy, with a focus on public procurement law, electoral law, constitutional law, international economic law, pensions law, administrative law and labour law.
Thiankolu is a Commonwealth scholar (2008-2009) and has a a PhD in law from the University of Nairobi (2020), a Master of Laws (with Distinction) in International Economic Law from the University of Warwick (2009), a Postgraduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law (2007) and a Bachelor of Laws (Second Class Honours, Upper Division) from the University of Nairobi (2005).
"In short, I have spent a significant part of my life perusing tomes, books, treatises, journals, periodicals, encyclopedias and theses," he says.
