Dorcas Agik Oduor has made history by being sworn in as Kenya’s first woman Attorney-General on Tuesday, August 20, succeeding Justin Muturi, who was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Public Service after resigning from the position of AG.
President William Ruto nominated Oduor to fill the vacancy left by Muturi, who resigned shortly before the head of state dismissed all but one of his CSs during the Gen Z-led anti-government protests last month.
The National Assembly approved her nomination on Wednesday.
Lawmakers, who also approved the nomination of Beatrice Askul Moe as Cabinet Secretary for EAC Affairs, supported a report from the Committee on Appointments that found the two nominees fit for Cabinet roles.
Askul, a long-time Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party official, has also made history as the first female Cabinet Secretary from Turkana County.
The Committee on Appointments, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetangula, unanimously approved the two nominees for the Cabinet posts.
“This House approves the appointment of the following persons: Beatrice Askul Moe as Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs and Regional Development, and Dorcas Oduor as the Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya,” the committee report said.
Before she was appointed the county’s 9th AG, Ms Oduor, a senior counsel with experience in litigation, drafting, and legal advice, was a senior prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
She was admitted to the bar as an advocate of the High Court in 1992, having attained her bachelor’s degree in law in 1990 and obtained a postgraduate diploma from the Kenya School of Law a year later.
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The new AG has 30 years of legal experience, having served in the State Law Office and the ODPP as Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions.
Ms Oduor has also been a member of various agencies and commissions, including:
- Chairperson of the Board of Review on Mentally Insane (Criminal Psychiatric)
- Assisting Counsel in the Akiwumi Commission on Land Clashes
- Assisting Counsel in the Bosire Commission on the Goldenberg Affair
- Assisting Counsel in the Kiruki Commission on the Artur Brothers
- Joint Secretary of the Police Reform Commission (Ransley Commission)
- Chair of the Board on Criminal Psychiatry (on behalf of the Attorney General)
- Member of the National Task Force on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
One of her notable achievements includes handling the fraud case against Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and the murder case against police officer Edward Kirui from the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kisumu.
Ms Oduor holds the title of Senior Counsel, as well as the honours of Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) and member of the Order of the Golden Warrior (OGW).
As Attorney General, Ms Oduor will serve as the principal legal advisor to the government, responsible for representing the national government in court and other legal proceedings.
She will also provide policy guidance, coordination, and oversight on legal matters, as well as offering advice and opinions to the president and heads of executive departments when requested.
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