Rare look into Kenya's judicial and political intrigues

Top Nairobi lawyer Sharad Rao has revealed captivating insights in his new autobiography, From Jomo to Uhuru: The Nine Lives of Rao.

Rao an esteemed judge who played a pivotal role in vetting judges between 2011 and 2016.

The book offers a riveting account of his experiences and the complex interplay of law, politics, power intrigues and personal vendettas that shaped Kenya’s post-colonial history.

The book, published by Free Press Publishers Ltd, was launched in Nairobi this week, and sheds light on notable episodes in Kenya’s judicial history, interactions with the country’s first three presidents, and key moments in Rao’s distinguished career.

One intriguing tale involves a judge who was allocated land intended for the judiciary but sold it for ten times its original price.

Another judge, notorious for stating that a person without hands does not need to be the president of Kenya, played a significant role in rejecting Kenneth Matiba’s 1992 presidential election petition due to a technicality.

There’s also the story of a judge who jailed a lawyer merely for suggesting his recusal from a case.

These stories are among the highlights of Rao’s tenure as the chairman of the Judges and Magistrates’ Inquiry Board.

However, Rao’s reflections also include a personal setback in 2019, when he was almost inducted into Kenya’s top lawyers’ club, Senior Counsel, but was blocked by two senior judges who, according to Rao, had a tough time during their vetting.

“When in September 2019 the Senior Counsel Committee met to consider senior counsel appointments, the two blocked my appointment despite my seniority as I was called to the Bar in June 1959 and enrolled as a lawyer of the High Court of Kenya in July 1960,” Rao writes.

He believed the judges, who had barely passed their vetting, had a personal vendetta against him.

Rao’s autobiography delves into key moments in Kenya’s history, offering glimpses into the temperaments and decisions of Presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki.

The book reveals previously unknown details about Rao and his relationship with Jomo Kenyatta, Moi and Uhuru Kenyatta who trusted his wise counsel at different times in their presidencies.

One notable incident describes Kenyatta chasing two British individuals in the House of Representatives with a cane for presenting a document incorrectly.

Another reveals the origin of Kenyatta’s directive to restrict the title “president” to the commander-in-chief after a European settler greeted him by saying, “One President greets another.”

Rao also provides insights into the strained relationship between President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga during the power-sharing agreement.

The book doesn’t shy away from criticism. Rao disapproves of Chief Justice Martha Koome’s remarks when delivering the verdict on the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition’s 2022 election petition, describing them as unethical and reckless.

He also critiques a judge for failing to appreciate the judicial prudence required in accepting and reselling state land meant for the judiciary.

Rao’s narrative covers the controversial ruling against Kenneth Matiba, whose petition was dismissed because he, paralyzed from state torture, could not sign the documents himself.

Supreme Court Justice Isaac Lenaona has written that the book is “a compelling memoir that seamlessly intertwines personal narratives with historical events.”

The judge pays tribute to Rao for “expertly capturing the political atmosphere and social upheaval that defined the era, providing a comprehensive look into the complex dynamics at play.

Through his vivid description and colourful storytelling, the reader is transported to different periods of his life, immersing themselves in the sights, sounds and emotions of each moment.”

- The book is available for sale from Text Book Centre, Bookstop in Yaya Centre and Prestige Bookshops in Nairobi and online through Nuria Store.