Who was Joseph Mutava, the former judge caught up in Pattni, Tuju controversies?

Former High Court judge Joseph Mbalu Mutava died on Saturday morning in Makueni County, bringing to an end a career that rose fast but was later overshadowed by major controversies over his conduct on the bench.

Mutava, who was married to Kibwezi East MP Jessica Mbalu, was in good health on Friday and had attended the burial of a close family friend before he fell ill hours later.

His friends rushed him to Othofix Hospital, a private facility in Makindu Township, after he collapsed in Kibwezi Township early Saturday. Medics pronounced him dead on arrival.

“We have transferred the body to Lee Funeral Home for preservation,” a heartbroken Ms Mbalu told the Nation.

The soft-spoken lawyer was appointed a High Court judge on August 23, 2011, by President Mwai Kibaki. He had graduated from the University of Nairobi with a First Class Honours law degree and, before joining the Bench, had worked at the Central Bank of Kenya as an assistant legal secretary.