The late Justice Daniel Ogembo’s funeral service was held at the Lavington SDA Church on Monday, July 29, where family, friends, and members of the Judiciary convened to pay their respects to the Siaya High Court Judge.
Justice Ogembo was found dead at his Siaya residence on Wednesday, July 17 after complaining that he was not feeling well the previous evening on Tuesday, July 16.
He was eulogized by family and colleagues ,praising him for his calm presence on and off duty.
Among them was Justice Anne Koros, who had been working with him in his final days, sharing how excited he was about an upcoming trip to the United States with his wife.
Ogembo had been planning to take his wife on holiday in September following the return of his children to school, and that he had already booked their flights in readiness for the trip.
“He was so keen to take his wife on the trip to the US in September. I remember when we were applying for leave days around June, he told me, ‘My sister, you can take your leave in July. In September, I will be taking my leave so that when my children have gone to school, I can take my wife Grace to the US,”Justice Koros disclosed.
The late judge was also scheduled for an interview at the Court of Appeal for a position being vacated by Justice Roselyn Aburili.
According to his colleague, the judge, who had diligently addressed the outstanding matters on his desk and cleared all his pending cases, was well-prepared for promotion. He was however promoted to higher glory according to Koros.
The Judiciary honored his memory as a committed and hardworking judge who consistently offered his support to the community.
“Justice Daniel Ogembo is eulogised as a calm, humble, respectful and astute thinker whose jurisprudential contributions will continue to enrich our legal landscape, especially in the area of criminal law,” read a statement by the Judiciary.
“His children echoed the same sentiment, offering a brief tribute to their beloved father.”
Chief Justice Martha Koome also described the late Siaya High Court as a calm, humble and respectful man, saying that he embodied the “very essence of a model judge”.
“The philosopher Socrates once said, “Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.” Justice Daniel Ogembo Ogola epitomized these virtues, embodying the very essence of a model judge,” she stated.