On Tuesday, President William Ruto nominated Dorcas Oduor as the new Attorney General.

You have probably heard of the name in relation to the justice system but who is she?

Oduor is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and holds a Masters of Arts in International Conflict Management (UoN), a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree (UoN) and a Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law.

She is currently serving as Secretary of Public Prosecutions at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

She has previously served in various capacities including Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), 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), Assisting Counsel Akiwumi Commission on Land Clashes, 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), 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. 

What are the roles of the Attorney General?

If her nomination is approved by the vetting committee, Oduor will be appointed to the office of the Attorney General. Below will be her roles:

She will be the government’s principal legal advisor, responsible for representing the national government in court or any other legal proceedings.

She will 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, access to justice including through the promotion of legal aid, good governance, 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 and 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.

Further, as the Attorney General, Oduor will be a promoter of the rule of law and defender of the public interest.