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Paul Muite's Biography in Summary

Paul Muite is one of the country's most prominent lawyers, having served in both the legal and political spheres since Daniel Arap Moi's tenure. He was a key figure in Kenya's second liberation struggle for multipartyism in the 1990s. He also served as chairman of the Law Society of Kenya at one point.


Here are five things to know about Paul Muite:

Served as a law clerk prior to Kenya's independence.
Paul Muite worked as a law clerk prior to Kenya's independence.


Served as the chairman of Ford Kenya.

Muite also served as vice chairman of the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy - Kenya under Oginga Odinga's leadership.
 

While fighting for multipartyism alongside Oginga and other second liberation fighters, Muite was a 'internal refugee' from 1988 to 1989, unable to leave the country because the government had retained his passport.

Paul Muite was the founding chairman of the Safina Party.
In 1995, Muite and palaeoanthropologist and conservationist Richard Leakey co-founded the Kenyan Safina Party. The Safina party was repeatedly harassed, and its application to become an official political party was not approved until 1997.


In the legislative elections on December 27, 2007, the party won five of the 210 elected seats.


Served as the MP of Kabete

Muite was a member of the National Assembly of Kenya for several terms, representing Kabete Constituency before it was divided into two, Kabete and Kikuyu constituencies. During his tenure in parliament, he chaired the key Parliamentary Committee on Administration of Justice and Legal Affairs, as well as the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Affairs.


Awards

In 2015, Paul Muite was named the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya Jurist of the Year.

He was honored for his brave defense of the Bill of Rights and contribution to the development of laws that resulted in Kenya's new constitutional order.


"His court victories are numerous, and his political contributions significant, but the cases he argues highlight style, commitment, and courage. This moral clarity would result in a surge in membership at the ICJ Kenya chapter, marking a watershed moment in the country's democratic transition. ICJ Kenya celebrates his career and hopes to draw attention to the importance of the courage, boldness, and expertise that he exemplifies," the organization stated.