Chief
A moment of quiet symbolism unfolded on May 5 during a judiciary outreach event in Lango sub-region, as High Court Judge Phillips Odoki came face-to-face with Dr Eng Odongo Okune, the Paramount Chief whose leadership he had nullified in a controversial 2023 ruling.
The event, organized under the Judiciary’s Alternative Justice System (AJS) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programme, brought together judicial officers, cultural leaders, and community stakeholders to promote non-litigious methods of resolving disputes. However, beyond its formal agenda, the gathering drew attention for what many observers interpreted as a gesture of reconciliation.
The roots of the dispute date back to October 31, 2023, when Justice Odoki delivered a 62-page ruling that nullified the election of Dr Odongo Okune as Paramount Chief of Lango.
Okune had been elected on February 28, 2023, succeeding Mzee Yosam Odur Ebii, who had stepped down due to age and health concerns. His election was, however, challenged in court by a section of clan leaders, including Benjamin Okii, Denis Obia Acila, and Dila Benson, who disputed its legitimacy.
In his ruling, Justice Odoki halted Okune’s planned coronation scheduled for November 2, 2023, an event that had attracted national attention, with the President expected to attend as chief guest.
The court further directed that Okune be de-gazetted and that Odur Ebii be reinstated, a decision that sparked widespread debate across Lango and the country.
Efforts by Okune to secure a stay of execution were later dismissed, deepening divisions within the cultural institution and among stakeholders.
Nearly two years later, the May 5 encounter between the two figures marked a notable shift in tone. In a gesture that captured the attention of attendees, Justice Odoki bowed and received a blessing from Dr Odongo Okune, an act widely viewed as symbolic of humility and the possibility of reconciliation.
Speaking at the event, Principal Judge Justice Jane Frances Abodo praised Lango for its cultural leadership and described Dr Odongo Okune as a leader of high caliber. She emphasized the importance of cultural institutions in supporting the delivery of justice and encouraged community leaders to embrace alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to address case backlogs and promote harmony.
The event, which was attended by key cultural leaders including Willy Omodo Omodo, Speaker of the Lango cultural institution, highlighted the growing role of collaboration between formal judicial systems and traditional leadership structures.