FAITH ODHIAMBO: The Life and the Legacy of an Architect of Justice

In the corridors of Kenyan law and the corners of family life, few figures command as much respect and curiosity as Faith Odhiambo. As the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), she stands at the pinnacle of a demanding profession, yet her story is not merely one of titles and courtrooms. It is one of deep-seated faith, a competitive spirit nurtured on the starting blocks of swimming, and a commitment to the presence that defines both her leadership and her motherhood. Her journey is a blueprint for the modern professional, particularly for those balancing high-stakes careers and raising the next generation.

Foundations of faith and discipline…

Faith Odhiambo identifies herself first and foremost through the lens of her relationships: she is a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a sister. For her, these roles are not footnotes to a high-profile legal career; they are the bedrock upon which her entire professional identity is built. As a devout Catholic, her profound sense of service was ingrained through her faith and years of dedicated community outreach.

This spiritual commitment is perhaps most visible in her long-standing role as a Sunday school teacher, a duty she took up at the age of eighteen and maintained for years. She only recently stepped back from this service because the presence of her own son in the classroom tagging at her made it impossible to discharge her duties with the responsibility she demands of herself.

Growing up in a Luo household, the cultural and familial expectations that hard work was non-negotiable were clear. In the Odhiambo home, papers (undergraduate degree) were the primary currency of respect and intellectual standing. Her father, whom she describes as more of a best friend than a remote authority figure, set a high bar for academic achievement. He refused to recognise anyone as an intellectual equal unless they held at least an undergraduate degree.

This was not a pursuit of elitism, but a rigorous dedication to analytical excellence. He was a man who led by example, staying up late with Faith while she studied so she would never feel alone in her academic struggles. Together, they would engage in a form of intellectual sparring, reading the same biographies and later comparing notes to see who could offer the best analysis.

If her father was the intellectual mentor who fostered her love for the law, her mother was the warrior who forged the steel in her spine. A fierce disciplinarian, her mother balanced the heavy demands of work and household chores while simultaneously pursuing evening classes to further her own education. This relentless drive earned her the reputation of having a “magic spell” or a monitoring system, as she always seemed to know exactly who had neglected their chores or fallen behind in their studies.

Her mother instilled a go-getter spirit in all her children, operating under the firm belief that no child is stupid. In fact, the word “stupid” was the ultimate taboo in their house; using it was an offence that would result in the “caning of a lifetime.” This strict but supportive environment fostered Faith’s belief that success is not a matter of luck, but of pushing through the tough questions and staying competitive in all facets of life.

Today, she credits her mother’s discipline for the many things she has achieved, acknowledging that while they may have bumped heads in the past, her mother’s pushing was a gift.

From the Pool to the Bar…

Before the law became the centrepiece of her life, the swimming pool was the arena where Faith Odhiambo first learnt of discipline and the grit of competition. Competitive swimming was not merely a hobby; it was the primary channel through which she funnelled her youthful energy and burgeoning passion. This pursuit was so intense and her schedule so demanding that it often became a family affair. She recalls how her older brother would get “so sick” upon hearing that yet another competition was on the horizon. In the absence of their parents, the duty fell to him to show up and support her, witnessing first-hand the drive that would later propel her to the head of the legal profession.

However, the path from the starting blocks to the bar was paved with scepticism from the outside world. Faith’s love for the law was sparked as early as primary school, but it was met with the gatekeeping mentalities of the time. She vividly remembers a teacher telling her that the legal profession was a closed circle. That, to succeed, one essentially needed a lawyer already in the family. The teacher probed her: “Is your dad a lawyer? Is your mom? Is your uncle?” When Faith answered no, the teacher offered blunt advice to choose something simpler, as she lacked the connections deemed necessary for such a prestigious field.

Undeterred, the young Faith questioned this gatekeeping. In her mind, the path was clear and meritocratic. “You only needed to study hard, pass your exams, and then you would become a lawyer,” she told herself.

This foundational belief in merit over who you know would eventually define her leadership style. While walking away from competitive swimming to pursue her degree was a painful transition, it was made easier by the fact that she was stepping into another world she loved just as deeply.

For Odhiambo, the law is far more than a technical career; it is a wild love and a profession that she describes as being intricately embedded within her very being. She views the legal system as a sacred opportunity to stand for justice and to fight for what she believes is right. Even in her younger days, she saw the law as a shield to defend those who had been brought into the justice system unfairly.

Today, she carries that same competitive fire from the pool into the courtroom, noting that the excitement and satisfaction of victory is a direct reward for the gruelling work put in behind the scenes.

Partnership and “Lawyer” rule…

In the world of legal practice, many find solace in partners who speak the same professional language. Faith Odhiambo, however, was adamant about the opposite. She was initially very clear that she did not want to marry a lawyer. Her reasoning was practical and rooted in a desire for work-life separation.

“I think we talk too much about case law, and all the drama we have in courts is intense,”  she says, adding that she had no desire to return from a day of litigation only to continue the debate at the dinner table.

This firm stance set the stage for her meeting with John Lawrence. The two were introduced by mutual friends who believed they would click, despite their contrasting temperaments. At the time, they were fellowshipping in the same church but had never crossed paths; John was a member of the choir, while Faith served in the Sunday school ministry. Faith describes herself as someone who is not particularly outgoing, preferring to stick to her safe circles of established friends. In contrast, John is a natural extrovert. Faith describes him as the type of person you find at the centre of a crowd, laughing loudly.

Her initial impression was far from a fairy tale. During their first dinner together, she found herself being judgmental and reclusive, thinking he was simply too loud and outgoing for her tastes.

“I like to go home and have some peace of mind,” she notes, admitting she feared his personality meant she would be forced to host endless crowds.

However, John slowly ingrained himself into her system by paying attention to the small things. What ultimately bridged the gap between the introvert and the extrovert was their shared, passionate love for God. This spiritual middle ground allowed them to communicate as believers first, ensuring a foundation of mutual respect and shared values.

John has continuously proven the depth of this bond over the years and more so during Faith’s turbulent tenure as LSK Vice President. He wasn’t just a provider; he was a constant presence. When she was pregnant and stuck in meetings until midnight, he would physically show up at the office to be with her. After their son was born, he would take the child so she could rest or focus on critical meetings. For Faith, this presence is the hallmark of their partnership.

“People can provide,” she observes, “but the element of someone being present with you in your challenges, in your difficulties… is quite important,” she says. In John, she found a friend, a protector, and a partner who makes her feel as though the “whole world” is for her alone.

Leadership with a conscience…

As LSK President, Odhiambo has utilised her specialisation in competition law to protect the average Kenyan. She played a key role in recommending regulations for buyer power within the Competition Act, specifically to protect small-scale suppliers from the dominance of large supermarkets. Her work has also touched on consumer protection, including filing cases against the unauthorised collection of iris data.

A significant portion of her leadership is dedicated to carrying others with her. She has deliberately lobbied for the swearing-in of more female Senior Counsels and pushed women to take on pro bono matters. Her approach to mentorship is radical. She introduces her council members to her connections and sends them into important and big offices so they have the capacity to lead even if she were to step away or something happens to her.

The legal career, even before practice, is commonly known for its demanding nature, where wellness is often sacrificed for professional success. Faith Odhiambo has cultivated a defiant approach to personal sustainability. Managing what she describes as the heavy chalice of the LSK presidency, a role fraught with immense pressure and public expectation, requires more than just mental fortitude; it requires a disciplined, physical approach to wellness. To stay grounded, Odhiambo has integrated a rigorous self-care routine into her demanding schedule. This includes a strict diet, even turning down cake during this interview, and a commitment to the gym three to four times a week.

For her, these sessions are not about aesthetics but are a vital way of managing stress and venting the frustrations that come with leadership. When the gym isn’t enough, she turns to long, meditative walks. “Stress sneaks up on you,” she warns, emphasising the need for a deliberate outlet. Beyond the structured exercise, she is an unapologetic lover of dance. While critics sometimes view her dancing at functions as a calculated political move or a bid for social media traction, she explains that she dances because it is a source of pure, uncomplicated joy.

However, the most ironclad rule in her schedule has nothing to do with the courtroom or the gym; it is her commitment to dropping her son off at school personally. In a position where she could easily delegate such tasks to staff, she views these moments as irreplaceable quality time. This dedication is born from a deep-seated philosophy that children remember. She understands that while the public may eventually forget her legal precedents or her impact as LSK president, her son will vividly remember that his mother was the one who did homework with him, picked him up from school, and engaged in the daily banter of his life.

This maternal presence is a direct legacy of her own late father, whom she remembers fondly as the tallest man on Parents’ Day. He was a father who did homework with his children and made his presence felt in every milestone, a blueprint she now follows with her own child. Through these deliberate steps, she ensures her son feels the same security she felt growing up.

When contemplating the legacy of power she might leave behind, Odhiambo remains grounded in humility. She wants her son to understand that power is about a great responsibility to make a positive impact on the lives of others. She teaches him that strength comes from the heavenly father and that no human determines one’s destiny. In her view, without being anchored by faith and humility, the weight of responsibility can become overwhelming. Ultimately, she does not want her son to know of her from others or read about her in history books. She hopes he remembers her as a mother who was simply and consistently there.

Looking back and moving forward…

Reflecting on the trajectory of her life, Faith Odhiambo admits that her current prominence in the political and legal spotlight was never part of her original design.

In her younger years, she did not see herself entering the fray of LSK politics. Instead, her aspirations were mirrored after her father’s career; she wanted to teach law because she was inspired by his deliberate and engaging teaching style. She joined the world of academia through his influence, envisioning a life of practising law and lecturing rather than presiding over the nation’s premier bar association. As she puts it, “life just happened,” and her career evolved through a constant drive to push herself to the next level.

If she could travel back in time to speak to her younger self, her advice would be a blend of professional urgency and personal sentiment. Professionally, she would tell younger Faith to build more connections and finish her PhD much sooner. However, her most touching reflection is personal – she would tell herself to take “many, many photos with Dad.” This reflection underscores the profound impact her late father had on her life as a mentor, a best friend, and her greatest intellectual rival.

As her presidency draws to a close, her commitment to the rule of law and positive societal change remains unshaken. While the specific details of her next chapter are yet to be written, she remains anchored by her faith. Her guiding principle remains constant: “God provides the opportunities; the question is, will you be ready when it comes?”

This article was originally published in Issue 448. Click HERE to read the full issue.

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