DORCAS ODUOR SWORN IN AS ATTORNEY GENERALAT STATEHOUSE NAIROBI
President William Ruto formally welcomed Dorcas Oduor as Kenya’s new Attorney-General during the swearing-in ceremony at State House in Nairobi, noting that her appointment was based on competence, not gender.
“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,” Ruto said.
He only cemented the fact that Oduor’s choice was based on professional qualifications and ability, already proven.
Ruto expressed his strong confidence in Oduor’s capacity to perform the role. “I am very confident and clear that you will not only make us as a country proud but also, you will demonstrate what has always been said that what a man can do, maybe a woman can do better. Many people will be watching,” he declared.
The commendation from the President is a reflection of how highly he held Oduor and his belief in her potential to do great things with an office that seems to have so much promise placed upon it.
In the address, Ruto also cushioned the need for collaborative efforts in her new role. “It is very important Madam Attorney General that you work with all the other agencies to make sure that responsibility and legal representation to the government and people of Kenya is timely, robust and appropriate,” Ruto advised.
The guidance underlines effective inter-agency coordination in the execution of legal and governmental duties efficiently and transparently.
Oduor’s appointment becomes yet another important milestone in Kenya’s legal history as she becomes the first female Attorney General. She replaces Justin Muturi, who had already been reappointed to the Ministry of Public Service in Ruto’s new Cabinet.
That marks a significant change in the legal environment of Kenya, with Oduor taking up a role that has otherwise been dominated by men. She was confirmed after a stringent vetting by the Committee on Appointments in the National Assembly, which approved her appointment last week.
