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Humility, family and message won Odhiambo LSK presidency

She had to leave  behind child and husband while traversing the country hunting for votes.

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by The Star

News29 March 2024 - 12:17
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In Summary


  • Her friends and colleagues were on hand to attend her meetings, donate resources and campaign for her in their own circles.
  • Odhiambo believes her campaign strategy also enabled her to remain in touch with the ground.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo at her office during the interview. /COLLINS APUDO

Faith Odhiambo is now settling in as the 51st president of the Law Society of Kenya after she won the February 29 election.

She told the Star in her first post-election interview that, although the campaign was gruelling and uncertain, her cordial personality and supportive family carried her to the finish line.

Odhiambo battled against seasoned lawyers Peter Wanyama, Bernhard Kipng’etich, Carolyne Kamende and Njoki Mboce.

Her experience during the campaign did not match any she had previously. She served as Nairobi branch representative and subsequently as the society’s vice president under Eric Theuri.

“This experience was unlike any that I have had. I thought the vice president one was stretching but it does not even come close,” she said.

She had to leave  behind her child and husband for days on end while traversing the country hunting for votes in the remote branches.

“I’m grateful my husband and family are very understanding and supportive. Also, I’m grateful that the baby did not fall sick and no incident happened during this period that seemed never to end,” she said.

Her friends and colleagues were on hand to attend her meetings, donate resources and campaign for her in their own circles.

“My friends were vital in this win. People like Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, who is our patron at Okil Kamaloka welfare group, was instrumental in encouraging me through it all and passing my message to his broader network of lawyers,” she said.

“Someone like Ambrose Rachier was also crucial for me, having been among the first prominent lawyers to publicly endorse me and encourage me to keep going. Hon Kalonzo Musyoka was also key in my endeavour and I’m sure without their help and support I would not have succeeded.”

Odhiambo believes her campaign strategy also enabled her to remain in touch with the ground, be aware of her weak areas and constantly work on them.

She encouraged frank feedback from her core team as well as supporters and took action to address the weaknesses.

“When you are humble enough to listen to criticism and work on it, you encourage people to be frank with you and support you. We would prepare for media appearances and debates with my team and after the fact, we would review and get feedback on what should change going forward on our communication and where to put more efforts it.

“Lawyers, even in regions where I did not expect support, would come to me and tell me where to improve and I received them with a positive mindset. I’m sure humility counts for something.”

Odhiambo also relied on her track record as LSK Nairobi representative and vice president, leveraging on her successes to propose practical promises and the voters believed her.

“If you have a record that people relate with and can attest to, then it is easy to be believed that what you are saying, you will do, and are not just saying it to win,” she said.

Her record seemed to thaw resistance against her candidature even in areas she did not expect much support.

“I was surprised to go to a region I had thought was a bastion of my opponent only to be received with wide smiles and warm hugs and so much goodwill. They would tell me how this initiative or that work I did touched them and they believed that it was me, and not my opponent, who was suitable,” she said.

The LSK president has extended an olive branch to her opponents to work together for the society.

“I know I have my ideas but we must be cohesive and work together as lawyers for the good of our practice and the administrative of justice.”

Her first order of business is to bring the council members together, iron out differences that may have emerged during the campaign and harmonise her vision with that of the council.

One of the key initiatives she hopes to carry forward from the Eric Theuri administration is getting a new office for the society as the current Gitanga Road premises are condemned.

“We have a condemned building and it is embarrassing that we are the only bar association in the region that does not have its own modern premises. We want to get this done in consultation with members and in an orderly fashion,” Odhiambo said.

She wants the LSK to be more involved in public interest litigation in line with the mandate of standing up for the rule of law.

But her administration will do it differently by monitoring legislative processes before bills become laws.

Another priority is to deploy technology in the management of lawyers’ affairs, including securing their systems to forestall intrusion.

“Reviewing the advocates remuneration order is also close to my heart to see that they are well paid in line with the changing economic times. Part of this review is change of law on practicing certificate fees. I want it slashed considerably,” she said.

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