President William Ruto on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, announced Dorcas Agik Oduor as the nominee for the vacant Attorney General (AG) position.
In a statement, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said that President Ruto nominated Oduor to take over from Cabinet Secretary (CS) nominee for Ministry of Public Service Justin Muturi, who was dismissed from the position when the Head of State dissolved Cabinet.
“The presidential nominations as transmitted to Parliament pertain to the position of the Attorney-General and the existing vacancy at the rank of Cabinet Secretary. In that regard, it is notified that the Head of State and Government has nominated Ms. Dorcas Agik Oduor, SC, EBS, OGW, for appointment to the position of the Attorney-General of the Republic of Kenya,” read part of the statement.
The new Attorney General nominee is a Senior Counsel who has vast legal experience spanning over thirty years of practice within the public sector.
Koskei highlighted that the new Attorney General nominee in her long and distinguished career as a jurist has contributed immensely to the development of law in Kenya through litigation, draughtsman, and legal advisories.
“Senior Counsel Oduor has demonstrated unimpeachable integrity, impressive professional competence and steadfast commitment to the rule of law,” the statement adds.
Dorcas Oduor Nominated as Attorney General
The AG Nominee is currently the Deputy Director Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Head of Economic, International and Emerging Crimes at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Also Read: Did Rebecca Miano Reject Ruto’s Attorney General Offer?
A career Prosecution Counsel, Dorcas Oduor has previously served in the Public Prosecutions space for more than 12 years having begun her career as a State Counsel in 1991.
Oduor was admitted to the bar as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in 1992, having attained her postgraduate Law Diploma from the Kenya School of Law in 1991.
She holds a master’s degree in international Conflict Management and a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL. B) from the University of Nairobi where she graduated in 1990.
If approved by the National Assembly, Dorcas Oduor will become the nation’s first female Attorney-General
She has been a member in various agencies/commissions including as Chair of the Board on Criminal Psychiatrics (on behalf of the Attorney General) and Chairperson of the Board of Review on Mentally Insane (Criminal Psychiatric),
Dorcas Oduor has also served as Assisting Counsel in the Akiwumi Commission on Land Clashes, Assisting Counsel in the Bosire Commission on the Goldenberg Affair and Assisting Counsel in the Kiruki Commission on Artur Brothers.
The new Attorney General nominee has in the past assumed the roles of Joint Secretary of the Police Reform Commission, (Ransley Commission) and Member of the National Task Force on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.
President Ruto Reverses Rebecca Miano’s Nomination
Oduor has been nominated to take up the position following the changes made by President Ruto after his earlier nomination of former Trade and Industry CS Rebecca Miano to become Kenya’s first AG was reversed.
Also Read: Ruto Nominates Candidate for Attorney General Position
Rebecca Miano whose name had been fronted the Head of State on July 19 as he unveiled 11 faces of his first batch of the new-look Cabinet was notably missing from the list of his nominees presented to Parliament on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, for vetting.
The Head of State omitted Miano’s name from the list of Cabinet nominees that was submitted to Parliament and announced by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
This had raised speculations on whether the former CS who was nominated by President Ruto to the Attorney General (AG) position had rejected the offer, with her name later announced as the new nominee for the Tourism Ministry.
Attorney General’s Role
The role AG in Kenya is critical and multifaceted, making it one of the most influential positions in the government
The AG serves as the principal legal adviser to the government, representing the national government in all legal proceedings except criminal cases.
This includes advising government ministries, departments, constitutional commissions, and state corporations on legislative and legal matters.
The AG’s duties extend to promoting the rule of law, protecting human rights, and ensuring good governance.
Additionally, the AG is responsible for negotiating, drafting, vetting, and interpreting local and international agreements and treaties on behalf of the government.
An Attorney General has the power to appear in any court proceedings involving the government and can summon public officers to provide information relevant to legal inquiries.
The AG’s office also oversees the administration of justice, anti-corruption strategies, and the regulation of the legal profession.
Meanwhile, President Ruto while announcing the nomination of Dorcas Oduor nominated Beatrice Askul Moe, for appointment as the CS for East African Community Affairs (EAC) & Regional Development.
Koskei noted that Ruto has transmitted the nominations for appointment to Cabinet to the National Assembly for consideration and approval in fulfillment of the legal requirements set out under our nation’s supreme law.
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