Who is Dorcas Oduor? Kenya's first woman on brink of becoming Attorney General

The country is on the verge of an all-female-led justice system if President William Ruto's nominee for Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor, is confirmed.

If approved by the National Assembly, history would be made as she becomes the first female Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya.

Oduor will also become Kenya's ninth Attorney General.

Attorneys General of Kenya since 1963 include; Charles Njonjo (1963–1979), James B. Karugu (1980–1981), Joseph Kamere (1981–1983), Matthew Guy Muli (1983–1991), Amos Wako (1991–2011), Githu Muigai (2011–2018), Paul Kihara Kariuki (2018–2022) and Justin Muturi (2022–2024).

Her career life

Once vetted and approved, Oduor will become the principal legal adviser to the Government and will also be a member of the influential National Security Council.

Currently, she serving as Secretary of Public Prosecutions at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and holds a Master of Arts in International Conflict Management from the University of Nairobi.

She also attained her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from UoN and a Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law.

Previously, Oduor worked as the Deputy Chief State Counsel and as a State Counsel for the (department of Public Prosecution).

Still at the ODPP, she has served in various capacities including Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Head of Economic, International and Emerging Crimes Departments) (ODPP).

Oduor has also worked as the Assisting Counsel Kiruki Commission on Artur Brothers, Chair of the Board on Criminal Psychiatrists (on behalf of the Attorney General) and member of the National Task Force on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.

She has also worked at the Joint Secretary Police Reform Commission, (Ransley Commission).

In addition, Oduor has been a member of various agencies and commissions including as Chairperson of the Board of Review on Mentally Insane (Criminal Psychiatric), Assisting Counsel Bosire Commission on the Goldenberg Affair and assisting Counsel Akiwumi Commission on Land Clashes.

As the government's chief legal advisor, she will join other women in powerful positions. In the Judiciary, she will work closely with Chief Justice Martha Koome, who is the first woman to hold that role, on the National Council on the Administration of Justice.

Other notable women in the sector include Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfrida Mokaya Boyani.

At the Bar, she will also interact with Faith Odhiambo, the first female president of the Law Society of Kenya.

Also, as part of President Ruto's cabinet, she joins a list of women who have been nominated to various Cabinet Secretary positions.

They include Soipan Tuya ( Defence), Debra Mulongo (Health), Alice Wahome ( lands), Margaret Ndung'u (ICT), Rebecca Miano (Tourism), Stella Lang'at (Gender) and Beatrice Askul Moe (EAC).