How Raila picked me to be his legal adviser for 14 years- Paul Mwangi

Lawyer Paul Mwangi has offered a detailed account of how he unexpectedly became Raila Odinga’s legal adviser, a position he held for 14 years, shaping his career and giving him a front-row seat to Kenya’s political transitions.

During an interview on Citizen TV, Mwangi shared that his association with Raila began in 2011, when he was well known as a political analyst and columnist rather than an active political player.

At the time, he was part of a Sunday panel discussion on Citizen TV that dissected succession politics during Mwai Kibaki’s final term in office.

“It was in 2011 that I was identified from the Citizen TV studios. I was part of the panel of a show called the Kibaki Succession hosted by Julie Gichuru, whereby every Sunday we would discuss different aspects of Kibaki's succession. I was a political analyst, and I had a following at that time. During that time, Miguna Miguna was relieved of his duties,” Mwangi recounted.

After Miguna’s departure, discussions arose within Raila’s camp on whether to find a new legal adviser ahead of the general election.

“Some people convinced Raila that he needed to put in a replacement. A gentleman who was his aide, Idris Abdirahman, told him I was the best candidate for that,” he said.

Mwangi said Idris approached him with the proposal, but he hesitated at first.

“I knew Idris, and he came up to me and told me that I should be the one to replace Miguna. I never thought of it at all. I told him to grant me time to think about it. I asked friends, and the reception was hostile. Some level-headed people told me it was a privilege,” he recalled.

After some reflection, Mwangi agreed to meet Raila, describing their first encounter at Raila’s Karen home as eye-opening.

“He wanted to see me, so I went to his house in Karen. We had tea, and he shared his beliefs, where he was coming from, and his history. That’s when I started framing my mind of the person I was going to work for,” he said.

He said his admiration for Raila grew stronger after observing his courage in championing the conservation of Mau Forest despite the political risks it posed.

“I had paid attention to him when he dealt with the Mau issue, and at that time, he said we have to save the Mau. I was a columnist then, and I applauded him for his position on the environment. The more I thought about it, the risks he took to do that, what it cost him because I think it really cost him votes in the Rift, I got to understand he had principles of proposition on issues,” he said.

According to Mwangi, Raila’s political philosophy was rooted in consistency and principle. “When he held a position on an issue, he would stick with it regardless of the cost he had to pay,” he added.

He described working with Raila as both demanding and fulfilling, saying the ODM leader expected professionalism and independence from his team.

“Raila had no regard for ethnicity. He never gave me special favours and expected everyone to fight their own battles and learn to swim with the sharks. You had to have a thick skin and know how to survive,” he said.

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Reflecting on his years of service, Mwangi said he felt privileged to have worked closely with Raila, describing him as one of the most disciplined and principled leaders he has ever known.

“It was not a simple thing to serve and advise someone like Raila; it was a privilege. He held principled positions on issues and stuck to them no matter the price he had to pay. He was always consistent,” Mwangi said.