He is reported to have worked for the better part of Tuesday, July 16 before he retired home alone.
Siaya High Court Judge Daniel Ogembo is dead. Ogembo was on Wednesday, July 17 found dead inside his residential house in Siaya Town.
He is reported to have worked for the better part of Tuesday, July 16 before he retired home alone. His driver dropped him at the residence. However, when he went to pick him up Wednesday as usual, he realized he was not responding to calls and texts.
The driver thus had sought help to access the house where the body was found, according to police, who added that the driver informed them he had complained he was not feeling well on Tuesday before he went to bed.
They waited for the family to arrive to access the scene and process it. He stayed alone at the time when the body was discovered on Wednesday morning.
A police vehicle at the residence of Siaya High Court Judge Daniel Ogembo as of July 17, 2024. /CYPRIAN NYAKUNDI
The body was moved to the mortuary pending autopsy and investigations. Siaya County Governor James Orengo led the country in mourning the late judge.
“Justice Ogembo had a marvellous ability to listen intently, reflect quietly and then interject, usually with a brief few words that brought clarity in the courtroom. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he mourned.
Until his untimely death, Ogembo was the presiding judge at Siaya High Court. He was appointed Judge of the High Court in 2016.
He joined the judicial service as a Magistrate in 2004. Since being appointed a Judge, he has served at the Eldoret, Milimani and Siaya High Courts. Notably, he was admitted to the Roll of Advocates, in 1993.
Ogembo is the third officer in the Judiciary to die while in active service. High Court judge David Majanja died on July 10, seven days shy of Ogembo and was incidentally meant to be laid to rest on the same day that Ogembo was found dead.
The third Judiciary officer was Makadara Law Courts Principal Magistrate Monica Kivuti who succumbed to gunshot wounds inflicted by a police officer during an active court session.
The late High Court judge, David Majanja. /FILE