The legal profession is known for its prestige and lucrative opportunities, and Kenya is no exception. The country is home to some of the highest-paid lawyers in the region, who have achieved remarkable success in their respective fields.
These legal professionals command significant influence, handle high-profile cases, and offer their expertise to clients seeking top-tier legal services.
In this article, we will explore the realm of the highest-paid lawyers in Kenya, delving into their accomplishments, specialties, and the factors that contribute to their impressive earnings.
Law is the third-highest-paying career in Kenya, behind doctors and judges. Some lawyers who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law are now at par with the wealthiest people in Kenya.
They earn huge legal fees by representing the government, government officials, parastatals, companies, etc.
1. Abdullahi Ahmednasir-Senior Counsel
His client list reads like who is who in Kenya. Ahmednasir almost in all cases attracts over a million shilling fee.
He represented the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the 2013 presidential election.
The vocal senior counsel was paid kes40 million for his services which translated to kes2.9 million daily.
He was among the lawyers who represented President Uhuru Kenyatta in the last general election.
2. Paul Muite-Senior Counsel
Those who followed the struggle for the second liberation of Kenya will definitely know Paul Muite. He, together with Orengo and other strong-willed individuals, fought the good fight that led to the democracy we are enjoying to date.
When the senior counsel- jointly with Kioko Kilukumi- represented the Ministry of Lands in a legal tussle with the National Lands Commission in the Supreme Court, he billed his client Kes15 million which he went on to term as “gross undercharging”.
3. Tom Ojienda-Senior Counsel
Your fees are above there when you are a serious lawyer like Tom Ojienda. For example, he billed his client, the National Lands Commission, kes221 million.
4. Danstan Omari – Criminal Lawyer
He takes cases only a lawyer with balls of steel can. He has represented Pastor Ezekiel together with among other accused elements no lawyer wants to touch. Danstan Omari asks for millions in legal fees and his lifestyle can attest to that.
5. Fred Ngatia-Senior Counsel
Sharp, unassuming, and simply on top of his game. Most Kenyans know Fred Ngatia for the role he played in the two presidential petitions as a lead lawyer for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The lawyer collects millions in legal fees for representing state corporations, constitutional commissions, and public offices. His law firm was paid kes 290 million for representing the Kenya Airports Authority.
6. Katwa Kigen-Senior counsel
He rose to fame when he represented journalist Joshua Sang and Deputy President William Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Katwa Kigen was the only Kenyan leading lawyer at the Hague-based court. His fees are in the millions.
7. George Oraro-Senior Counsel
Unlike Ahmednasir, senior counsel George Oraro prefers to stay out of politics. He made headlines when he successfully represented former ODM chairman Henry Kosgey during the hearings at the ICC. Oraro went on to represent the defunct Cord coalition in the 2013 presidential elections.
His fee was more than 20 million during the presidential petition. In 2015, Lithuania appointed George Oraro as the first consul for East Africa. This appointment comes with a fat cheque for the prominent lawyer.
8. Jane Wanjiru Michuki
Jane Wanjiru Michuki is one of the highest-paid lawyers in Kenya and among Kenya’s wealthiest women. Apart from being a lawyer, she is a businesswoman and investor.
She first graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Law from the University of Nairobi before joining the Kenya School of Law for her post-graduate diploma. She later joined Warwick University in the United Kingdom for her master’s degree.
Jane Wanjiru’s areas of practice in the legal field are perfecting securities, contract negotiations, and financial negotiations. She works as a Managing Partner at her law firm in Nairobi called Kimani & Michuki Advocates. They have high-profile clients in big corporates like Equity Group Holdings Limited, in which she is also a stakeholder.
On her business and investment side, she has invested in several large companies. She is also the leading female investor at the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
9. Cliff Ombeta – Criminal Lawyer
Cliff Ombeta is one of the richest lawyers in Kenya who practices criminal law. In an interview with the Standard newspaper some years ago, he revealed that he often got in trouble in high school and was expelled from different schools for refusing to be punished by arguing his case.
He says that his interest in criminal law started in high school when he read a book entitled “Rage of the Angels” by Sidney Sheldon.
Cliff Ombeta has been in court representing accused criminals. An example is a case where he defended Migori Governor, Okoth Obado who was charged with the murder of a university student, Sharon Otieno. He has often received a fair share of criticism for defending criminals, but he says that he represents people he believes are innocent.
The outspoken lawyer is a fashion and car lover. He loves suits so much that he spends as much as Khs.500,000 for a pair. His lowest budget for a pair of suits is Ksh. 170,000. He also owns several high-end cars, including an SLK 200 convertible Benz, an S-class 320 Benz, an E330 Mercedes, and an E320 Mercedes.
10. George Oraro
George Oraro, who has also earned himself the Senior Counsel status, is a laid-back lawyer. Unlike other outspoken lawyers like Ahmednarir Abdullahi, he is not often seen publicly giving sentiments or political opinions despite having experience of over 35 years.
The lawyer first came to the limelight when he successfully represented former MP for Tinderet Constituency Henry Kosgey at the International Criminal Court. In 2013, he was yet on another high-profile case where he represented the defunct Cord coalition during the presidential elections petition at the Supreme Court.
Those and many other court cases have propelled George Oraro into one of the richest lawyers in Kenya. To add to that, Lithuania appointed him in 2015 as their first consul for East Africa. He is also the co-founder of Oraro & Co Law Firm.
In conclusion, the legal profession in Kenya presents a fertile ground for talented individuals to prosper and achieve considerable financial success. The highest-paid lawyers in the country have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and expertise in their chosen fields, allowing them to command substantial fees for their services.
Their accomplishments serve as a testament to the opportunities available within the legal industry, as well as the demand for top-tier legal representation in Kenya.
As the legal landscape continues to evolve, it is likely that the ranks of the highest-paid lawyers will continue to expand, offering aspiring legal professionals a glimpse into the heights that can be reached through hard work, specialization, and a commitment to excellence.
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