Appeal Court Justice Otieno Odek dies at his Kisumu home

Court of Appeal Justice Otieno Odek is dead.

Reports reaching the Standard Digital desk say that the judge collapsed and died at his Milimani home in Kisumu on Monday morning.

A magistrate has confirmed the death to our reporter adding that police officers and a pathologist are currently at the scene.

The cause of his death is yet to be established.  

Chief Justice David Maraga expressed his condolences to the family of Justice Odek saying, “He was not only a distinguished judge but also a prolific legal scholar who was widely published and celebrated across the continent and beyond.

Justice Odek served as the Director of the Judiciary Training Institute from 2016 to 2018.

The 56-year old Odek was sworn in as a Court of Appeal judge in 2012.

In 2011, Justice Odek unsuccessfully applied for the position of Supreme Court Judge.

He is a former partner at Tom Ojienda and Wanyama Advocates.

He made headlines last year in December when the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji announced that he (Odek) would be a prosecution witness in a case against his former partner Tom Ojienda.

Ojienda, a senior counsel, was to be charged with fraud over alleged Sh89m he allegedly received as legal fees from Mumias Sugar Company.

In a statement, the DPP said Justice Odek was not under investigation in connection with the affairs of the sugar company as had been reported by media.

Born in October 1963, the judge hailed from Memba village, Rarieda sub-county, Siaya.