The University Of Nairobi takes pride in having trained the crème de la crème in the corridors of power The just concluded 2022 presidential election petition court case had a huge representation of UON-trained lawyers from both the bench and bar battle it out in the Supreme Court.
1. James Orengo
Senior Counsel James Orengo is a human rights activist and a prominent politician and is the current Governor of Siaya County
He is also one of the few Kenyan lawyers who have attained the professional grade of senior counsel in the legal field, a title that he earned under former president Mwai Kibaki
In 1971, he joined the University of Nairobi to study law, where he became the university student president in 1973. In 1974, he graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Laws LLB. He later enrolled at the Kenya School of Law and was admitted into the Kenya Legal Counsel
He was the lead counsel for Azimio la Umoja during the 2022 presidential petition and had also represented Hon. Raila Odinga in the 2017 presidential petition against Uhuru which he won.
2. Philip Murgor
Philip Murgor is a lawyer who has over two decades of experience in his trade. He has worked as the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) among other powerful positions.
Philip joined the University of Nairobi for his undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and graduated in 1985. In 1982, while still at the university, he was among the students who were incarcerated for six months following the attempted coup on Moi’s government.
The lawyer styles himself as a man of integrity who has a strong conviction in upholding the rule of law. He is also authorized to practice at the International Criminal Court.
3. Otiende Amollo
Paul Otiende Amollo is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya of many years of standing, a Notary Public, a Commissioner for Oaths, and a Certified Public Secretary. He is also the current Member of Parliament for Rarieda Constituency
Amollo holds an LL.B (Hons) degree from the University of Nairobi (1995) and an LL.M (Hons, Public Law) degree (2004) from the same University.
He was formerly the Chairperson of the Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) of the Republic of Kenya, a position he has held since November 2011 His tenure in office saw the commission establish itself as an independent body and had achieved 99 percent success at the time he left. He is an avid debater in and out of Parliament.
4. Donald Kipkorir
Donald Kipkorir a man who grew up in poverty but changed that narrative of his life by becoming one of the most successful and elite lawyers in Kenya.
He is a registered Patent Agent, Commissioner for Oaths, and Notary Public. He has chaired Kenya Government Task Forces on immigration and tourism.
He joined the University of Nairobi and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honors) in 1991
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He is considered one of the country’s affluent advocates as his law firm (KTK Advocates) has represented a vast number of clients.
He once worked for the current Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula from 1994 to 1996 and ended up setting up his own law firm.
The outspoken lawyer in past interviews reiterated that he owes his wealth to individual efforts, quality education, and sheer hard work.
5. Mr. Paul Mwangi
Paul Mwangi is known as the most trusted lawyer of former premier Odinga and serves him as Senior legal advisor a position he took up in 2012.
He did his A-Level at Kagumo High School in 1985 where he emerged top, earning himself the prestigious Gandhi Smarat Nidhi Award for the most excellent performance.
He then proceeded to the University of Nairobi where he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Law.
He features on the Daily Nation as an author who has published 1634 articles cutting across all journalistic realms.
He was among the first to blow the whistle on judicial corruption through his book Black Bar: “Corruption and Political Intrigues within Kenya’s Legal Fraternity.”
He is among the lawyers who represented the Azimio party in court to nullify former Deputy President William Ruto’s win in the August 2022 general elections.
6. Willis Otieno
Willis Evans Otieno is a Kenyan politician and lawyer who is a senior partner at Otieno Ogola & Company Advocates.
Between 2014 and 2016, he attended the University of Nairobi graduating with a Master of Law degree.
He has served in different professional capacities. He was an adjunct Lecturer at the Kenya School of Law. He also served as a Junior Fellow at the state university of New York.
Since January 2013 to date, he has been the Principal Partner in charge of litigation, governance, public law, elections, constitutional and administrative law, and political processes at Otieno Ogola & Company Advocates.
He was among the lawyers challenging the win of President-Elect, Dr. William Samoei Ruto at the Supreme Court on account of alleged electoral malpractices
Otieno made headlines during the 2022 Presidential petition court case when he decided to use nursery rhymes of “pinky pinky ponky paka mielo disco” in his submission at the Supreme Court game.
7. Julie Soweto
Julie Soweto is a professional lawyer and a human rights activist. She has been an attorney for 22 years working in both South Africa and Kenya. She has strongly defended the rights of humankind in the last 22 years of her career and many Kenyans admire her mastery of the constitution
She joined the University of Nairobi in 1996 where she studied Bachelor of Law (LLB) and graduated in 2000
She has taken on a variety of matters at the national level in both Kenya and South Africa. This covers, among many others, the petitions for the 2013,2017, and 2022 presidential elections.
8. Fred Ngatia
Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia is regarded in legal circles as the guru of judicial review cases. In a span of over three decades in his legal practice, Fred Ngatia has never lost a case in any court of law in Kenya and was named Kenya’s top lawyer in 2011.
The Lawyer Cum Advocate has also been a general Police Inspector in Kenya in the Past. He is a highly charged litigator in Kenya.
Fred is an alumnus of the University of Nairobi where he studied Law. He graduated with Honors from the university in 1979. Fred handles cases in commercial and public interest categories. He represents governments, top political leaders, and top corporate entities.
Among his successful high-profile cases, Fred has defended President Uhuru Kenyatta in more than two cases in the position of a senior lawyer. He was the lead Counsel for President Ruto during the 2022 Presidential election petition court case
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9. Kioko Kilukumi
Senior Counsel Kioko Kilukumi is a renowned criminal lawyer and has represented high-profile clients as well as the needy, sometimes pro bono. He has helped numerous marginalized and poor people who have been left at the mercy of the prosecution for lack of legal fees.
Kilukumi attended the University of Nairobi and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1990 and he is a part-time lecturer in criminal litigation.
In a past interview, Kilukumi stated “My role is always to ensure that the client gets the best. Our job is to ensure that all evidence presented to court satisfies the threshold and in this era where we have very professional prosecutors, we must also be well prepared as defense lawyers to give our clients the best,”
Kilukumi attended the University of Nairobi and graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree in 1990. He has represented many clients like the late former Internal Security Cabinet Minister Prof George Saitoti Dr. Ruto, former ambassador to Libya Anthony Muchiri former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu former Finance Minister David Mwiraria former Migori governor Okoth Obado among others.
He was part of President-Elect William Ruto’s legal defense during the August 9, 2022, General Elections court case
10. Mr. Katwa Kigen
Senior Counsel Katwa Kigen became well known as the advocate who represented radio reporter Joshua Sang at the International Criminal Court (ICC) following Kenya’s post-election violence in 2007/08
Kigen was admitted to the bar in 1996, and practices law at Katwa and Kemboy Advocates in Nairobi. He holds a Bachelor of Laws LL.B (Hons) degree from the University of Nairobi and a diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law.
In a past interview, Mr. Kigen revealed that he did not set out to be a lawyer as a kid but had wanted to be a journalist.
Joseph Katwa Kigen rose to fame when he represented journalist Joshua Sang and Dr. Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He was the only Kenyan leading lawyer at the Hague-based court.
Apart from handling matters about international criminal law, Kigen has also represented clients in cases concerning commercial law.
11. Hillary Sigei
Hillary Sigei is a managing partner at Sing’oei, Murkomen, and Sigei (SMS) Advocates. He boasts over 10 years of experience in legal practice and over 7 years in management and leadership.
Wakili Sigei as he is popularly referred to as holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (2005) from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Laws in International Trade and Investment Law (2014) from the same institution.
He is a member of the Standards Tribunal-a Judicial Tribunal established under the Standards Act, to adjudicate appeals filed by entities and individuals dissatisfied with the decisions of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). He also sits as a Member of the Dispute Resolution Committee and Tribunal established on an ad-hoc basis by the Political Parties.
12. Muthomi Thiankolu
Dr. Muthomi Thiankolu is a Partner at Muthomi & Karanja Advocates and a Lecturer at the University Of Nairobi Faculty Of Law.
His professional interests are in public procurement regulation, dispute resolution, electoral and democratic processes, constitutional and administrative law, and international economic law. He is an accomplished legal practitioner, consultant, and academic.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Nairobi in 2005. He holds a PhD in law (2020) from the same institution.
Dr. Muthomi has appeared at the East African Court of Justice, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kenya, all other superior courts of the Republic of Kenya, and many specialized courts and tribunals.
He has provided legal consultancy services to the World Bank Group, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, and the Judicial Service Commission of Kenya, among others
13. Nelson Havi
Nelson Havi is a man who embodies the rags to riches through hard work and resilience mantra.
The former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president is among the top legal minds in the country. It was while in Standard Six that he developed an innocent desire to study law.
Havi holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (2001) from the University of Nairobi Some of his classmates at the University of Nairobi included his wife, Fellicine Oriri, Centum CEO James Mworia, journalist Tony Mochama Diana Kethi Kilonzo, among others distinguished scholars and judges strewn across the country.
He boasts an illustrious career in law and he was elected the 49th LSK president of the society and served until the end of his two-year term. During his time at KSL, he aimed to make things better matters such as complacency and corruption.
14. Abraham Korir Sing’oei
Dr. Sing’oei is the Legal Advisor at the Executive Office of the Deputy President, where he is also the Head of Law and Policy and Convenor of the Open Government Partnership in Kenya.
He is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Chair of the Legal and Devolution Committee of The Presidential Task Force on Parastatals Reforms. He is a renowned human rights lawyer with vast experience in the field, having handled assignments both locally and internationally.
Dr. Sing’oei holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (1998) from the University of Nairobi, and a Master of Laws in Comparative Human Rights Systems from the University of Pretoria in South Africa
The renowned lawyer won the first indigenous right case in 2010 before the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights when he represented the Endorois community. He has won numerous land, human rights, and elections-related cases in various courts in Kenya.
15. Mohate Somane
Born in a family of 10, Mohate Somane stated that he had an inbuilt desire to help his marginalized community in Garissa County.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Law from the University of Nairobi in 2005 and a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law in 2007.
He won a scholarship to study for a Master’s Degree in Law (2011) at Harvard Law School an opportunity he says helped him get legal knowledge from one of the best institutions on the globe.
The attorney who also represented IEBC in the 2017 Presidential election petition manages a law firm, Garane & Somane Advocates.
The firm offers pro-bono services to start-ups as well as provides free legal aid to vulnerable and underprivileged citizens seeking justice.
In his hometown, Somane also offers help to poor households to get access to pocket-friendly and energy-efficient power at no cost.
Among his achievements is partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation program to draft model laws on technology and sustainability.
16. Prof. Githu Muigai
Prof. Githu Muigai is a lawyer and an Associate Professor of Public Law at the University Of Nairobi Faculty Of Law. He assumed office as the Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya on 27 August 2011 after being appointed by Former President Mwai Kibaki
He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law in 1984 from the University of Nairobi and in 2001 was awarded a doctorate degree in law from the same institution.
While on campus he won several awards like Winner, including the Hamilton, Harrison, and Mathews Advocates Prize for Best Law Student: in 1981, Best Student, Third Year Law Class, University of Nairobi, Winner of the Hamilton, Harrison, and Mathews Prize for Best Graduating Student and Winner of the Kaplan & Stratton Advocates, the prize for the best final year Student,1984 among others
Prof. Githu Muigai served in the defunct Constitution of Kenya Review Commission and at the United Nations as a Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. He has also served as a Judge in the African Court of Justice.
He has researched and published extensively in the areas of international law, constitutional law, and human rights and has previously worked as a consultant to various international organizations, including the African Union, UNDP, the World Bank, and the ICRC.
17. Tom Ojienda
Senior Counsel Prof. Tom Ojienda is an Experienced Advocate of the High Court with a distinguished law career spanning over 25 years.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) from the University of Nairobi and a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Pretoria South Africa. ‘’I never intended to be a lawyer. I wanted to become a pilot.
Law came after my ‘A’ levels. My father influenced me into this profession. Once I joined the University of Nairobi to study Law, I never looked back. I graduated among the top students in my class’’. The lawyer noted in a past interview
He has built a solid reputation for himself in the legal community throughout his more than 20-year career and is regarded as one of the nation’s top legal minds.
Prof. Ojienda is the highest educated member of the Upper House and one of the few attorneys with the title of “Senior Counsel” and a member of the bar. He is the only elected senator (Kisumu County) in the nation with the title of Professor
Prof. Ojienda has a knack for transforming the landscape of every aspect of legal practice he ventures into. He has made game-changing contributions, from legal academia to professional associations’ leadership, litigation to legal consultancy and advocacy, legal research authorship to being an elected and celebrated representative of his peers at the Judicial Service Commission.
18. Harriet Mboce
Njoki Mboce is a lawyer, consultant, academic, and policy advisor. She is also a certified civil and commercial mediator and qualified arbitrator. She is a practicing advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a founding partner at the firm of Njoki Mboce & Company advocates.
In March 2022, she was elected as the Nairobi representative to the law society of Kenya Council. She will serve from 2022-2024.
She teaches at the University of Nairobi, where she is also pursuing a PhD, with a focus on maritime delimitation disputes, an aspect of maritime security. She is an expert consultant in the same field.
Njoki is one of the drivers of the implementation of the FishFORCE Academy model in Kenya, The initiative seeks to set up an Institute of Ocean Sciences and Governance in Kenya and the suitability of the FishFORCE model in Kenya for purposes of combating maritime crime.
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