State Law Office set to open offices in 15 counties

By Peter Ochieng

The State Law Office, otherwise known as the Attorney General’s office, is set to open new offices in 15 counties across the country.

The new offices, according to Solicitor General Shadrack Mose, will provide civil litigation, public trustee and registrar general, which include marriages section services in the counties.

The new centres, Mose said, will start operations in January 2025. “In an effort to enhance access to justice in other parts of the country, the Office shall decentralize its services of Civil Litigation, Public Trustee, Registrar General - Marriages section and National Legal Aid services to the following 15 Counties beginning 1st January,” he stated in a statement.

“The Attorney-General sought Cabinet approval to establish offices in the 47 counties. On 27th June, 2023, the Cabinet approved the establishment of decentralized offices of the Attorney General and Department of Justice at County level in the 47 counties,” he added.

The new offices will be opened in Nyandarua, Narok, Tana River, Tharaka Nithi, Baringo, Trans Nzoia, Makueni and Lamu counties. Others are Vihiga, Marsabit, Kajiado, Isiolo, Wajir, Elgeyo Marakwet and Kiambu.

The Attorney General’s office currently has offices in at least 13 counties. They are Malindi, Mombasa, Garissa, Machakos, Embu, Meru, Nyeri, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kakamega, Kisii and Kericho.

Article 156 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Office of the Attorney General Act 2012 establishes the Office of the Attorney General.

Roles of the Attorney General include being the government’s principal legal advisor, responsible for representing the national Government in court or any other legal proceedings to which the national government is a party.

The holder of the office also discharges the functions of a Cabinet Secretary in relation to the Department of Justice and therefore, is responsible for the promotion of human rights and implementation of the Constitution, access to justice including through the promotion of legal aid, good governance, anti-corruption strategies, ethics and integrity, legal education and law reform, among others.

He or she provides policy, coordination, and oversight with regard to various legal sector institutions and therefore has a broader cross-cutting mandate to support the strengthening of legal sector institutions.

The Attorney General is also the promoter of the rule of law and defender of the public interest.