On Monday, something unusual happened in Africa, and in Kenya. Dr Willy Mutunga, until a few days ago the Eastern Africa Representative for the Ford Foundation, was sworn in as Kenya's first Chief Justice under the country's new constitution.
Mutunga, a lawyer who was jailed by then president Daniel arap Moi for his pro-democracy activities in the 1980s, is known to many civil society activists and progressives in Uganda. He used to joke that whenever he went to Uganda, he feared that anti-gay politicians like MP David Bahati would arrest and take him away. Mutunga is a very liberal chap, and actively supported the campaign for gay rights in Uganda too. He wears an ear-stud, and when he swore in as Chief Justice, he had a glittering one on!
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