Justice Evan Gicheru: Man who swore in Kibaki at dusk in 2007

The late former Chief Justice Evan Gicheru [File, Standard]

Johnson Evan Gicheru was a distinguished lawyer and the 12th Chief Justice of Kenya. He was appointed to the position in 2003 and retired in February 2011 following the promulgation of the new Constitution. Gicheru made history as Kenya's longest-serving Chief Justice.

One of the most controversial moments of Gicheru's tenure occurred in 2007 when he swore in the late President Mwai Kibaki at dusk after a highly disputed presidential election.

After the then-chairman of the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK), Samuel Kivuitu, controversially declared Kibaki the winner, Gicheru swiftly convened a ceremony and presided over Kibaki's swearing-in at State House. The event was attended by a small group of senior government officials and aides.

This swearing-in enabled Kibaki to begin his second term, but it also triggered violence in various parts of the country, particularly in the Nyanza and Rift Valley regions. This incident remains a defining moment in Gicheru’s tenure and in Kenya’s political history.

Despite the controversy surrounding the 2007 election, Gicheru is remembered for his efforts to promote autonomy within the judiciary. He worked diligently to break the judiciary's perceived alignment with the executive and focused on ensuring that the office of the Chief Justice remained a beacon of integrity.

Under his leadership, the judiciary saw improvements in efficiency, with a reduction in the number of missing court cases and files—a problem that had sometimes been linked to corruption.

His tenure was marked by efforts to streamline judicial operations and enhance overall functionality.

Johnson Evan Gicheru passed away in 2020 at the age of 79. He was remembered for his professionalism, steadfast public service, and deep humility.