By Nephat Kinyua
Many remember his stint as the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) chairman from 2007 to 2010, and he remains the last LSK chair with balls, the subsequent chairs save for wakili Mutua have been weaklings and regime apologists. When O’Mogeni joined politics, one expected that will climb rooftops and take on Uhuru, but like most senators, he seems to work quietly, and the positive results are there for all to see.
His stint at LSK came at a time when the country was agitating for reforms in the build up to the national referendum, he was 36 at the time, perhaps the youngest chair of the most prestigious and controversial professional body. The incorruptible O’Mogeni has put the right checks on the embattled Nyamira Governor, John Nyagarama, but he has given him time to work, unlike some senators whose ambitions sometimes blinds them to make the work of their governors impossible.
If anything, he sponsored a motion in parliament that saw Nyamira get a much needed extra Sh300 million to build the County headquarters, the biggest win for the first time governor. The news of the grant made even Governor to immediately propose to name the county headquarters complex Okong’o O’Mogeni centre. He is one of the most sober and active senators in the senate.
The sober senator (a teetotaler like his fellow Nyamira senior government officials like Chief Justice David Maraga and Interior Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang’i.)
Nyamira County is presently basking in glory as her sons and daughters seem to enjoy the trust of President Uhuru Kenyatta and former premier Raila Odinga. The Chief Justice, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Solicitor General, Chairman National Land Commission, Court of Appeal Judge Kiage and Chairman IPOA among other strategic positions are all headed by Nyamirans.
Outside parliament, he runs a clean business, his law firm is among the top and rarely do we see him representing corrupt officials or dubious characters. He is remembered for being the star Senior Counsel defending Raila in the 2017 presidential election alongside his colleague Senior Counsel James Orengo and Otiende Omollo among others. Some even cheekily say that Raila likes and trusts him and that he has quietly lobbied for ‘things’ to the county.
The Senator regularly travels to the village to spend time with the villagers, yet, he is not running for governor. Yet, besides CS Matiangi, he is one of the few people who can help Nyamira rise from a remote backward ‘villagesh’ county. And if all Nyamira leaders were like him, the county would definitely shine
The senator who has a national outlook is remembered for representing the errant Members of Parliament, known as the Pangani Six, from the CORD Coalition at the Milimani Courts over the Hate Speech charges.
Born in Nyamira in 1970, he schooled in Tinderet Primary, then moved to Kericho Primary before proceeding to Shauri Moyo in Kisumu where he sat for the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) in 1983. He joined Isebania High School for his ‘O’ level, and later the prestigious Kabianga boys High School for his A level. He attended University of Nairobi graduating in 1993 with a Bachelor of Law degree.
Other than the senate, he has served as the chairman of the defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Advisory Board (predecessors of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission), as well as a Member of the Media Council.
In 2012, President Kibaki named him ‘Senior Counsel’ alongside big legal brands like James Orengo, Ahmednassir, Paul Muite, Gibson Kamau Kuria, Amos Wako, and Prof Githu Muingai among others. O’Mogeni holds a Master’s degree in Law, LLM in Governance and Leadership
Source: kenyagist.COM