Lawyer Cliff Ombeta is now a new name in the Kenyan Legal Circles. Ombeta is not like many Lawyers you’ve seen or interacted with. He is a man who seems to thrive on chaos and sorrow.
Time and again, Ombeta has cut the picture of a man who likes taking risks. Talk of murder cases, mega corruption cases, drug trafficking cases and what immediately comes to your mind is Lawyer Cliff Ombeta.
Remember the murder of Lawyer Willie Kimani, his taxi driver and client? Well, apparently, Kenyan Lawyers had vowed not to represent the suspects implicated in the murder but Ombeta being Ombeta, went against everyone and decided to take up the case.
His reason was simple, representing accused persons in court is every Kenyan’s constitutional right.
Police officers are being investigated over the death of Kimani, client Josephat Mwenda and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri whose bodies were found in a river.
The officers are Fredrick Leliman, Stephen Chebulet, Silvia Wanjiku and Leornard Maina.
Ombeta said he is obligated as a lawyer to represent them in court.
“I should be there whenever needed. What can I do when they come to me? should I turn them away? They are also Kenyans and they need my help,” he said.
But the lawyer noted that he stands in solidarity with his colleagues in their strike against extrajudicial killings.