DAR ES SALAAM: RETIRED Judge of the Court of Appeal of Tanzania, Kipenka Mussa (69), who passed away last Saturday in Dar es Salaam, will be laid to rest on today at his home village in Kinampanda, Iramba District, Singida Region.
Judge Kipenka passed away on Saturday while receiving treatment at the Muhimbili National Hospital, Mloganzila, in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ yesterday, Mr Albert Msemembo, the late judge’s brother, shared that Judge Kipenka had been battling a long illness and ultimately lost his fight, while undergoing treatment at Mloganzila.
Mr Msemembo confirmed that the late judge’s body will be airlifted to Dodoma before being transported by road to his Kinampanda home village in Singida, for burial today.
Judge Kipenka was born on December 28, 1954, in Kinampanda, Iramba, Singida Region. He completed his primary and secondary education in Singida and Mara before attending the University of Dar es Salaam for his higher education.
According to Mr Msemembo, the late Kipenka was the fourth child in a family of nine. He is survived by a widow and four children.
Judge Kipenka served the nation in various capacities across all three branches of government: the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature, dedicating much of his career to the pursuit of justice within these institutions.
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In the Executive branch, Judge Kipenka held several key positions, including State Attorney and Director of the Department of Constitutional and Human Rights Affairs in the Office of the Attorney General.
He also chaired the Presidential Commission investigating the 2006 killings of four gemstone traders and served as Secretary of the Commission investigating the death of former Director General of Intelligence Services (DGIS), Lieutenant General Imran Kombe, in 1996.
In the Legislature, Judge Kipenka served as Clerk of the National Assembly from 2000 to 2004.
Within the Judiciary, he served as a High Court Judge from 2004 to 2012, before being appointed to the Court of Appeal, where he continued to serve until his retirement in 2019, in accordance with legal requirements.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed her condolences on her X account (formerly Twitter), sending her sympathies to the family, Chief Justice (CJ) of Tanzania, Professor Ibrahim Juma, the Judiciary staff and all those mourning the loss of Judge Kipenka.
“Judge Kipenka will be remembered for his distinguished service in our Judiciary and Parliament, as well as for leading various commissions to uphold justice for Tanzanians,” President Samia said.
Also offering condolences, Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Tulia Ackson, extended heartfelt sympathy to CJ Professor Juma and to the entire Tanzanian Judiciary, as well as the family of the late Judge Kipenka.
“We received the sad news of the passing of Hon Judge Kipenka Msemembo Mussa with deep sorrow. I extend my condolences to all those mourning his loss and may Almighty God grant the deceased eternal peace,” Dr Ackson said.
