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| Rebecca Miano named as nominee for AG |
Rebecca Miano has been nominated as the first female Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya. While there are political considerations for this role, I will avoid them as I am not an expert in the area. Rebecca is qualified for the job as it requires one to have practised Law for more than 15 years, similar to the qualifications needed to become a judge. She has passed for about 30 years. The Law uses the law ‘distinguished’ to describe the sort of legal practice one ought to have had. In my opinion, she has had a distinguished career. How gender affects corporate positions I would urge her and anyone who is a member of a professional body to renew their practice certificate annually, even if they are not in the mainstream. When appointed, don’t let the one bad thing out of nine good things be what people focus on. Especially as a woman, you know they will look for it. They are still looking for my husband since I ran for VP at LSK. I wonder whether they have found him. What being at the helm means Being the Head of Legal in any serious organisation requires mastery of the law and law practice in diverse areas. In essence, you are an entire law firm within an organisation. Anyone who has held this position will tell you that you end up doing more than rendering legal advice. People believe learned friends know everything, including why the commercial terms in an agreement should be altered and why the company which procured tiles for the new building should be fired. And because the expectation of you is so high, you learn those things. This is how I learnt finance and accounting, even though when I did accounting for lawyers at Moi University, I had to be tutored by my good friend Judy Omondi. I might add that I have never failed an accounting paper since. Thanks, Judy, you taught me the basics of accounting. What is the role of an Attorney General? It primarily involves formulating legal policy and ensuring the proper administration of Kenya’s legal system, including professional legal education. Well, the nominee is more than capable. As an in-house counsel, one of your key roles is policy drafting and review. You are at the centre of risk assessment and advisory regarding legal systems and regularly use them. Any external counsel out here works hard to get onto a corporate panel. Why is Rebecca Miano facing criticism? Before joining the corporate world, Rebecca worked in law firms in Kenya and Australia. I usually say this is where all legal practitioners should start their careers. Get your hands dirty and learn all the systems, processes, Judiciary, lands, and companies. She did it. I have heard the litigation lawyers up in arms and shocked that an AG had been selected from a field they don’t consider legal practice. Well, I want to tell you that you need to broaden your scope and learn that you do not need to be a litigation lawyer to hold a senior legal position. All you need is a good account of your time in legal practice. Why does Rebecca Miano’s past make her able? Beyond that, you should have developed other areas required to manage or run an organisation or ministry (which technically is the AGs Chambers). Rebecca is a company secretary. I cannot over-emphasise the value of corporate governance in this particular role. This is the added advantage that separated her from the rest. Having risen from corporation secretary to CEO, I assure you one doesn’t get there by chance. There must be something special about you. Finally, to get this position and even be considered for these roles, one must step out of their comfort zone. You must be extra to be the greatest, like Faith Kipyegon, Mary Moraa, and Simone Biles. This not only requires excellence but also courage. Advice to young lawyers When I put myself forward to run for the vice presidency of LSK, my teacher, Prof Ojienda, advised me to step down for Faith Odhiambo. My polite response to him was, “why don’t you ask Faith to step down for me?” I lost that election, but not only did I give her a run for her money, but that race reignited the fire in my belly. As my good friend and mentor Millie Mabona says, good girls don’t get the corner office. To the young lawyer reading this, expand your knowledge. Don’t limit yourself to the traditional areas of practice. Keep unlearning and relearning. You are your only limitation. To Rebecca, as you take up this role, the eagle has no fear of adversity. Eagles never worry about what others think, they focus on what they want.
by Hillary Lisimba