Dorcas Oduor: Hard task ahead for first woman AG

Dorcas Oduor takes oath of office during her swearing-in as the New Attorney General in a ceremony at State House, Nairobi. [PCS]

President William Ruto has tasked Attorney General Dorcas Odour to work with other government agencies to offer robust legal representation to the government.

Citing high loss of cases and awards against the government running into Sh700 billion, the President pointed out that in some cases, "it has been occasioned by compromise of government representation."

“It is very important, madam Attorney General, that you work with all the other agencies to make sure that that responsibility and legal representation to both the government and the people of Kenya is timely, robust and appropriate," said Ruto at State House, Nairobi, during Oduor's swearing-in as the country’s first woman AG.

President Ruto decried that the AG office had been left behind in discharging its advisory role.

“We have three fundamental issues that we consider important in the service of the people of Kenya. The Office of the Attorney General has been left behind in the modernisation and reform process. The Judiciary is well ahead of the Office of the Attorney General in terms of capacities that are necessary for that office to discharge its advisory role and legal mandate to the government and to the people of Kenya."

He asked Oduor to oversee expansion of the  office countrywide to make sure that people access justice.

Ruto said besides being a woman, Oduor was competent.

“Many people have said you become the first woman in independent Kenya to become Attorney General. This appointment is not just about you being a woman, it’s about you being competent. I am very confident that on account of confidence and ability to deliver," said the President.

Also sworn in is the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community and Regional Development, Beatrice Moe.

The President asked her to engage the East African Legislative Assembly members, given that she becomes an ex-official member, to formulate progressive policies.

“The EAC is the most progressive community in our continent, and a lot will be expected of you and your colleagues from the other partner states as you shepherd and steer this community to harness the collective potential of the 300 million people in the East African community for the progress and the expansion of business, enterprise, investment, and the unlocking of the tremendous potential that exists in this region.

“As the world moves towards regional blocs and investment, entrepreneurship, business, takes the lead as the new tools of governance and informing political orientation."

Ruto also tasked her to prosecute Kenya's push for Comoros to join the bloc.

"You are aware that already three countries have signed on to the East African Federation. The fourth country is on the way, and therefore it's an area of interest for us as a country because we've already taken that step,” he said.

In July last year, Ruto raised the idea of Comoros joining EAC while signing an agreement for deeper bilateral cooperation.