This archive report was first published on 19 August 2019.
On August 19, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta nominated Nairobi lawyer Gershom Otachi to be the new National Land Commission (NLC) chairperson, replacing Muhammad Swazuri whose six-year term ended in February.
Mr. Otachi is a partner at Ogeto, Otachi and Co. Advocates and has vast experience in international criminal law.
He was part of the legal team that represented former Police Commissioner Major General (Rtd) Mohammed Hussein Ali, when he had been implicated at the Hague-based ICC over crimes against humanity, but was later acquitted.
The President also nominated nine members to the commission, including former Labour CS Kazungu Kambi, former Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi, and former Isiolo Woman Rep Tiya Galgalo.
Lawyer Otachi was among 11 other individuals who expressed interest and were short-listed for the NLC chairperson’s job.
According to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, the nominations will be committed to the Lands Committee for review.
