Faith Odhiambo is in the race to succeed Eric Theuri at the Law society of Kenya as its 51st president. But being the sitting vice president has made the last one and half months of campaigning a rough ride. With just a few days to the polls, the soft-spoken but firm lawyer opened up to the Star on her campaign experience.
Excerpts:
You are technically the incumbent in this race and that carries with it ups and downs. What is it like so far?
I’m not the incumbent in the strict sense of it, because I’m not defending my vice president seat, but yeah, the perception out there is that I’m the face of the current council in this race and that attracts so much scrutiny. My opponents have tried to heap all the bad and the ugly of the current council on me, but I have managed to acquit myself competently and convincingly to my would-be voters that I’m accountable about the commitments I made when running in 2022. The commitments about the welfare of advocates, practice space, mentorship of young and upcoming advocates, stabilising the governance of society and getting back the partners that had shied off during the previous regime have all been fulfilled. Some of the opponents have tried to drag me to the fiasco of the previous council, but I must say, poorly at that, because it’s been easy to rebut the claims. I was among those who stood up for order and following the law in the past and present council.
I understand that you have two other women contesting against you. How is it running as a woman in a patriarchal society?
I made it clear that I came to this race well-armed because I knew it would not be a walk in the park. And I did not come as a woman, but as a competent, well-grounded advocate of enough experience and a solid leader who has a track record to be scrutinised. Being a woman should not disadvantage me. I have told countless advocates that I have made my case for the election that I’m equal to the task. I may receive a punch but I throw them in equal force and size, hence capable of dealing with every challenge in leading the society in the 2024-26 term.
But let me say that I’m well alive to the realities of life. Women have to travel twice the distance as men to attain a milestone in politics. It has taken me strenuous efforts to attain the current situation where I’m the undisputed front-runner in this campaign. I’m a mother and committed wife and that comes with its intrigues considering that I have to travel across the country to meet advocates in the branches, do late night meetings and field calls deep into the night or at wee hours. But I’m not complaining because as a seasoned leader in this space, this has been like the norm for me in addressing various welfare issues of lawyers and law students. As you know, I’m the patron of law students in the country.
Put more directly, do you think being a woman will dim your chances?
I know there are some quarters who could be having some hushed concerns about being led by a woman. Unfortunate as it may be in 2024, I only assure them that I’m blind to gender labels and stereotypes and I will serve them with equal dedication, respect, commitment and responsiveness. There is nothing that I can’t do because I’m a woman and I’m sure every man tells that to their daughters. I have stood up for the rule of law, including through leading protests on the streets and leading the charge to have the premises of the law society opened during the past council even as police lobbed teargas. I’m also a master strategist for boardroom consensus building and carrying everyone along. I’m reachable without any bureaucracy and I will be there for my colleagues, no matter their years of experience.
Label that you are ‘a perennial council member’ has refused to go away. What do you tell would-be voters about the concern?
It a cheap label that my opponents, and a particular one, has shamelessly stuck on. I’m a lawyer and a leader with a track record that advocates have interrogated every time I have offered myself for an elective seat and the verdict has always been a greenlight. Experience, trust and delivering on commitments must surely count for something when running for an office. You cannot just tell people that you will do this or that, or appear rough and tough on the outside, but there is absolutely nothing you can show that you have done for members. So yeah, I’m proud that I have won the confidence of lawyers every time I have offered myself for election. I believe that will be the case this time around. I will work hard to win their trust and confidence again on February 29.