Big names slug it out as interviews for Haji successor commence

Big names slug it out as interviews for Haji successor commence Omari is the youngest among the lot by years of practice having been admitted to the bar in 2011. He is to face the panel at 5pm on Tuesday. • It will be interesting to monitor his fate as he fashioned himself as a chief critic of then DPP Haji, lodging in excess of 20 petitions that sought his removal from office. Interviews for Director of Public Prosecution kick off on Tuesday, the question in many people’s minds being whether the panel will settle on an old hand or one who is fresh in the field. Fifteen candidates have been shortlisted for the interviews that will run on Tuesday and Wednesday. The seven-member interviewing panel has Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission CEO Twalib Mbarak, Public Service Principal Secretary Mary Kimonye, Solicitor General Shadrack Mose, Richard Onsongo, Bush Obwocha, and chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Roseline Odede. The 15 candidates some notable names in the legal profession. Former Mombasa politician Taib Ali Taib is the oldest in the lot, having been admitted to the bar in 1988. He played a prominent role in the prosecution of the Aror and Kimwarer corruption case, leading the charge against then Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Kosgei. Lilian Obuo, who served as the chief of staff to DPP Noordin Haji, is among the three women vying for the powerful seat. She joined the bar in 2000. Jacinta Nyamosi, who joined the bar in 1996, is another bigwig at the ODPP gunning for the seat. But perhaps all eyes will be on vocal advocate Dunstan Omari, whose shortlisting caught many by surprise even as prominent applicants like Miguna Miguna fell by the wayside. Omari is the youngest among the lot by years of practice having been admitted to the bar in 2011. He is to face the panel at 5pm on Tuesday. It will be interesting to monitor his fate as he fashioned himself as a chief critic of then DPP Haji, lodging in excess of 20 petitions that sought his removal from office. But in a twist of fate, he was among lawyers that defended a petition that sought to bar Haji from ascending to the office of NIS director general. Besides his regular media appearance for commentary on wide swath of issues, Omari has made a name in handling cases virtually in every specialty, ranging from child support, crime, succession matters to constitutional petitions. He handled paternity cases for then Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka and former Chief Justice David Maraga. He also appeared prominently in the Tob Cohen murder trial and succession battle, acting for the slain Ducthman's family. Omari controversy appeared for televangelist Ezekiel Odero whose church had been accused of impropriety in the face of the Shakahola deaths linked to pastor Paul McKenzi. Odero has since been freed by the state and his church back in operation after its accounts were unfrozen. Omari is also a darling of young lawyers and law students having paid fees for a number of them, mentoring them to admission in the coveted Roll of advocates. He is a teacher of law at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa where the President's son Nick was among his students. Lately, Omari has been among the chief lawyers for the opposition Azimio coalition. Others in the race for the DPP include former IEBC commissioner Thomas Letangule, Vitor Mule, judge Francis Andayi, Winston Aswani, David Mogunde, Renson Mwele, James Wahome, Jacob Nyakundi, and Peter Mungáthia.