The nomination of city lawyer Otachi Bw'Omanwa as the National Lands Commission chair by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday may after all be not news.
Born in Nyamira, Mr Otachi studied law in the University of Nairobi and graduated in 1989. He was subsequently admitted to the bar in 1990.
Although he has practiced law in the last 27 years, Mr Otachi came into public limelight in 2011 when President Uhuru Kenyatta, then Deputy Prime Minister, appointed him as one of his legal counsel.
For two years, Otachi together with other lawyers among them Solicitor General Ken Ogeto, would go on to win the case facing Uhuru at International Criminal Court where he had been accused of mass murder.
President Uhuru Kenyatta became the first sitting Head of State to attend proceedings at the Hague based court, following counsel by his lawyers.
Otachi is the Managing Partner and a qualified Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with 27 years practicing experience.
His areas of specialization include constitutional and administrative law, international criminal law, international law, civil and criminal litigation, elections and political parties’ law, arbitration, intellectual property and company law.
He has undertaken international legal assignments and represented clients before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania and The International Criminal Court, The Hague in The Netherlands where he successfully represented General Hussein Ali and participated in the defence of His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Regionally and nationally, he has argued cases before Rwandan courts, the Supreme Court of Kenya, the Court of Appeal and the High Court of Kenya, the Magistrates Courts and specialist tribunals.
He started practicing at Omwenga Omanwa and Company Advocates before joining Otachi and Ogetto Advocates where he partners with Solicitor General Ken Ogeto.
Already, Gusii lesders led by Governor James Ongwae have hailed President Uhuru Kenyatta for the nomination of Otachi to NLC.
"On behalf of the residents of Kisii County, I thank H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta for nominating the renowned lawyer Gerishom Otachi Bw'Omanwa to the position of Chairperson, National Land Commission (NLC).
"This is indeed a merited consideration. Congratulations @Gerishom for this well deserved nomination as we look forward to approval by parliament," said Ongwae.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Governor John Nyagarama, who praised President Uhuru Kenyatta for trusting Abagusii community in major leadership positions.