- Currently, the senior counsel is number two at the ODPP, serving as the secretary of public prosecutions.
- The role entails being the principal deputy to the Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga.
Image: HANDOUT
Human rights campaigners could soon be getting a close ally at the state law office after President William Ruto nominated career prosecutor Dorcas Oduor to be the first woman Attorney General.
Currently, the senior counsel is number two at the ODPP, serving as the secretary of public prosecutions.
The role entails being the principal deputy to the Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga.
She worked closely with then Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji as the secretary of public prosecutions.
Oduor would accompany her boss to the multiple meetings in the slums hosted by social justice centres. In the meetings victims of police brutality and other injustices would narrate their ordeals.
In one such meeting in Kiamaiko, she would say “I believe in social justice and upholding the rule of law to ensure even the weak and poor have equal protection of the law”.
Haji was pivotal in closing ranks with activists and social justice campaigners to bolster public confidence in the office.
Oduor was closely by his side and campaigners hope that she will bring that approach to the state law should National Assembly approve her.
Admitted to the bar in 1992, Oduor holds a Masters of Arts in International Conflict Management from the University of Nairobi.
She obtained her law bachelors from the same university before proceeding to the Kenya School of Law for the postgraduate diploma in law.
Oduor has previously served in various capacities including Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Head of Economic, International and Emerging Crimes Departments -ODPP.
She also worked as the Deputy Chief State Counsel and as a State Counsel for the (department of Public Prosecution) at the then Office of the Attorney General.
She has been a member in various agencies/commissions including as Chairperson of the Board of Review on Mentally Insane (Criminal Psychiatric).
Others are Assisting Counsel Akiwumi Commission on Land Clashes and Assisting Counsel Bosire Commission on the Goldenberg Affair.
She has worked as the Assisting Counsel Kiruki Commission on Artur Brothers, Joint Secretary Police Reform Commission, (Ransley Commission).
Also as Chair of the Board on Criminal Psychiatrists (on behalf of the Attorney General) and member of the National Task Force on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing among others.
As Attorney General, Oduor’s basic job will involve being the government’s principal legal advisor.
Appearing in court, she will be the titular head of the bar, given the first priority of audience in courts before other advocates.
The AG is responsible for representing the national government in court or any other legal proceedings.
The AG will also discharge the functions of a Cabinet Secretary in relation to the Department of Justice and therefore, responsible for the promotion of human rights and implementation of the constitution.
Also part of this is enhancing access to justice including through the promotion of legal aid and good governance.
This is in addition to anti-corruption strategies, ethics and integrity, legal education and law reform.
Oduor will provide policy, coordination and oversight with regard to various legal sector institutions.
She therefore has a broader cross-cutting mandate to support the strengthening of legal sector institutions.
Oduor will also review and oversee legal matters pertaining to Public Trustee and administration of estates and trusts.
She will negotiate, draft and vet local and international instruments, treaties and agreements involving the government and its institutions.