Whenever one thinks of a brilliant Kenyan lawyer, it is impossible to miss the name of James Aggrey Bob Orengo.
Although associated with the NASA coalition, Orengo is arguably admired from across the political divide for his mastery of the law and the diverse background of clients he has represented.
He is perhaps the only Kenyan lawyer who has represented former President Mwai Kibaki, President Uhuru Kenyatta, and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in various legal matters.
One then would wonder who is the ‘lawyer’s lawyer’?
Well, Orengo recently had a personal legal challenge after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption stated that it was investigating him over the illegal acquisition of the 0.1194-acre parcel of land at Maraboi Trading Centre in Kericho.
Orengo was later absolved, but the case also allowed him to unveil his personal lawyer, who is also his wife – Betty Murungi.
“The only complaints in this case, if there were to any, would be members of Senator Orengo’s family.
The ones who inherited the land with him and of the surviving members of his family, we are aware that none has raised a complaint. This is a malicious investigation,” Betty stated in defence of her client-cum-husband.
Unknown to many, James is happily married to a learned friend who is also an accomplished international lawyer.
Betty’s career as a human rights lawyer has seen her serve at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The soft-spoken mother of four has also served briefly as Vice Chairperson of the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC).
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Laws from the University of Nairobi where she graduated in the same class as outgoing Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai and Supreme Court Judge Smokin Wanjala.