Education writer Janelle Cox suggests that guest speakers have become an integral part of a student’s educational experience because they expose pupils to real-world life experiences from the position of someone who has been there. This provides scholars with a glimpse of the insight and perspective of the guest speaker’s field of profession. Indeed, Strathmore University shares the sentiments above and on Friday 23rd August organised a guest lecture by Former Attorney General Professor Githu Muigai. 

 

Prof. Muigai’s lecture was based on the legal sphere in Kenya. He gave a brief history of the nation’s legal profession and the developments and improvements it has undergone over time. He also touched on the challenges he faced while practicing law during the various important roles he played, as well as his contribution to the law system as a lawyer, member of the Law Society of Kenya and as the Attorney General in overcoming some of the challenges the legal profession faced.

 

In his concluding remarks. Prof. Muigai talked about the importance of the Judiciary in the Legal Profession in Kenya and the vital role of interpreting the law and indirectly ‘creating law’ (precedents) that enhance and develop the legal system in Kenya. Students got a chance to interact with the professor through a question and answer session. 

 

Prof. Muigai, who specializes in public procurement law, corporate finance, and civil and commercial litigation, is currently a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). He holds an LLB and a PhD from the University of Nairobi, an LLM from the Columbia University Law School and, Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.

 

Fourth-year law student Mishael Wambua said he learned a few things about the law he was not aware of such as the correlation between the Council for Legal Education (CLE), the Kenya School of law and the role Professor Muigai played in separating the two. “This lecture also reminded me that a lawyer may at times find themselves in situations where they are not comfortable, but they still must represent their client in the best way possible,” he added. He further remarked that such events re-enforce an individual’s zeal in pursuing a career in law. 

 

It was interesting to hear Prof. Muigai’s views on the bar exams, renewal of human capital in the legal system and his work at the UN as a Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance. 

 

It was an honor to have Professor Githu Muigai speak to first-year students as they begin the journey in the legal profession and a good reminder on the importance of passion and hard work in the profession.  

 

This article was written by Stephen Mariru and Renee Tikolo. 

 

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