Meet Itumbi’s Aunt Who is a No-nonsense Judge in Nairobi

Former State House Digital Director Dennis Itumbi who is now working for Deputy President William Ruto is a relative to one of respected and feared high-ranking Judge in Kenya.

Justice Jessie Wanjiku Lessit, the no-nonsense Judge who is head of Milimani High Court Criminal Division is Itumbi’s aunt. And both are related with late Archbishop David Gitari of Anglican Church of Kenya.

It is a familial relations the Judge and Itumbi have kept under wraps for long but now it can be revealed how the two are related.

They hail from Kirinyaga County. Justice Lessit is Gitari’s niece. Her mother is sister of Gitari whereas Itumbi is son of Gitari’s niece. Lessit and Itumbi’s mother are cousins.

“It is an extended family and prominent because of the late fiery Reverend Gitari. So Itumbi can call Justice Lessit his aunt and late Gitari as grandfather” a source hinted.

Itumbi with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

And as fiery the late Gitari was, Lessit and Itumbi face issues head-on. Itumbi has been into police cell and courts, facing off with prominent politicians.

On the other hand Lessit is strict, no-nonsense Judge who tremble lawyers in courtroom. She tackles high-profile cases and according to prominent criminal lawyer Cliff Ombeta, Lessit is strict but fair.

She started as a resident Magistrate in Meru and rose through the ladders. She is the one who sentenced the beauty queen Ruth Kamande to hang after she stabbed her boyfriend to death.

She is handling the case of Sarah Wairimu who is linked with murder of her Dutch tycoon husband Tob Cohen.

The other case is that of Migori Governor Okoth Obado who is charged with killing of his fiance Sharon Otieno.

Late Archbishop David Gitari.

Also the murder of lawyer Willy Kimani alongside two others allegedly by four police officers is another case she is tacking.

The prominent case is that of lawyer Assa Nyakundi who shot and killed his son Joseph Bogonko last year as they were reportedly driving home from church.

“She is tough. Facing her when you are guilty you know the full force of law will strike you. She chases journalists out of court without explanation and we can’t question her actions” a journalist reveals.