Jephnei Nyakwama Orina was officially sworn in as an attorney in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on May 2, 2025, a milestone that expanded his legal practice beyond Kenya to the United States. Already an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Orina now holds dual admission, enhancing his ability to serve clients on both continents.
Born in the humble town of Ogembo in Bomachoge Chache constituency, Kisii County, Kenya, Orina’s journey to legal prominence is a testament to perseverance and determination. In an interview with Chams Media, he revealed that his academic path began at St. Charles & Caroline, Makara Primary School, followed by St. Joseph’s School, Rapogi in Migori County, a school noted for its academic excellence.
Orina’s first degree was a Bachelor of Education (Arts) from Kisii University, where he majored in History and Kiswahili. After completing his undergraduate studies, he worked for two years teaching History and Kiswahili, employed by the Board of Management and licensed by the Teachers Service Commission.
However, during his time as a teacher, Orina was drawn toward law after working as a paralegal at Ochoki & Company Advocates in Kisii. This experience inspired a career pivot from teaching to law.
He pursued a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree at the University of Nairobi starting in 2018, simultaneously studying for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance at Kisii University. After obtaining his law degree, Orina qualified as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya by earning a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
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Seeking to expand his legal expertise internationally, Orina moved to the United States, where he earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Business Law from Northeastern University School of Law.
Jephnei Orina in the United States
He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Juridical Science (Ph.D in Law) at Suffolk University Law School. His doctoral research focuses on child online privacy protection, the right to be forgotten, and data privacy in the context of an AI-driven digital age.
Professionally, Orina serves as Managing Partner at his law firm’s U.S. office in Boston, Massachusetts. His practice encompasses immigration, family law, corporate law, litigation, and emerging areas such as AI and data privacy—an area closely tied to his doctoral dissertation.
“Here in Boston, what we do is that we partners we partner with individuals and businesses in matters of immigration, building families. We do family law. We do a lot of corporate matters uh registration of companies. We also do some bit of litigation as well as things to do with AI and data privacy. My PhD, my dissertation was on AI and data privacy. That’s a big place that we are investing a lot of resources and time on as a law firm,” Orina explains to Chams Media.
His firm maintains a strong presence across East Africa, with partners in Nairobi, Kisii, and even South Sudan, where they advise clients in the financial services sector. His brother manages the Nairobi office, reflecting Orina’s commitment to bridging legal services between Kenya and the U.S.
On the differences in legal practice between the two countries, Orina notes striking similarities. “The United States and Kenyans are very familiar in a similar way. The same way Kenyans are litigious, Americans are too,” he says, highlighting that about 40 million lawsuits are filed annually in the U.S. “53% of businesses in the United States are sued every year,” he adds, referencing data from the Small Business Association.
“The Kenyan community here is very supportive; the majority of our clients are Kenyans or Africans. We handle immigration cases and are encouraging Kenyans investing back home to engage lawyers licensed in both jurisdictions, so they don’t lose their money.”
Take on immigration
Immigration law is an area close to Orina’s heart. He advises prospective immigrants to maintain their legal status, pointing out available immigrant visas, such as the National Interest Waiver, which is designed for individuals with exceptional abilities and advanced degrees.
“Many people, including myself, came as students on non-immigrant visas before changing their status to become legal permanent residents,” he says. “There are legal ways to immigrate—seeking asylum or other shortcuts often cause more harm than good.”
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As a Massachusetts-licensed attorney, Orina can practice both state and federal law, including immigration, which is governed by federal law in the U.S.
Beyond legal practice, Orina is a law professor, teaching at Baltimore Technical College and Suffolk University, where he shares his knowledge with the next generation of lawyers.
Orina’s professional and academic accomplishments are remarkable, but so is his political ambition. At just 29 years old in 2022, he challenged Kenya’s then-Deputy President William Ruto for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential ticket, calling for increased youth representation in government.
In 2024, he announced a bid for Chairperson of the African Union Commission, challenging Kenya’s government-backed candidate, Raila Odinga, emphasizing Africa’s young median age of 19.7 years and the need for youth-led leadership on the continent. He has expressed interest to run for the 2027 presidential elections.
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