Legal Officer

Currently legal and compliance officer at Jamii Telecommunications Limited, a privately owned Kenyan telecommunication service provider offering broadband and mobile services under the "FAIBA" brand. Job Responsibilities: • Preparing and reviewing legal documents, including customer-facing contracts, leases and licenses, • Preparing and monitoring the contracts and property schedules to ensure timely renewal. • Ensuring that the company’s interests are always protected in contracting. • Ensuring that the company’s rights and interests, including intellectual property, are effectively protected and not infringed upon. • Assist in undertaking legal review of and assist in advising the company upon important legal Documents, agreements, policies and procedures. • Management of litigation involving the company in liaison with external lawyers assigned, and ensuring that the company is represented in court. • Ensuring that all documentary and other evidence are well preserved and stored, all files are in place and well updated. • Participation in company record management through effective archiving. • Preserving the legal integrity of the company’s commercial operations. • Conducting legal training to the company’s employees on the respective legal • Requirements for their roles in the company, and assist in acting as a resource on the interpretation of existing or proposed laws and regulations. • Participating in the company secretarial tasks as assigned from time to time. Key Achievements • Compliance & Regulatory Affairs: o Spearheaded the preparation of quarterly legal audit reports to ensure company-wide regulatory compliance, including comprehensive audits of the Data Protection Policy in line with the Data Protection Act (2019), Data Protection (General) Regulations (2021), and the EU GDPR. o Engaged with key regulators, including the Communications Authority of Kenya, contributing to telecom policy development such as the ICT Authority Bill, 2024, in collaboration with TESPOK. • Contract Development & Negotiation: o Crafted and executed complex legal instruments including NDAs, Powers of Attorney, licensing agreements, and strategic Memoranda of Understanding. o Developed and negotiated specialised Joint Venture agreements for Dark Fiber services with major government entities including Kenya Power, Kenya Pipeline Company, KETRACO, and the ICT Authority. o Led negotiations and drafting of 4G Rooftop Transmitter and Co-Location lease agreements with private landlords to facilitate expansion of BTS sites. o Structured rooftop and co-location lease agreements to support 4G infrastructure rollout and standardised Dark Fiber and rooftop leases to align with internal governance. o Conducted quarterly training sessions across departments covering critical areas of Labour Law, Occupational Health and Safety, and Data Protection compliance. • Business Development Provided critical legal compliance expertise for tender bids, resulting in successful contract awards for telecommunication and technical services with key public institutions, including the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission, National Registration Bureau, and Kenya Power & Lighting Company.

In House Counsel

In-House Counsel to Kipchimchim Group of Companies, which consists of 10 retail and wholesale supermarkets (FMCG) trading as Kipchimatt Supermarket, Five Tea Factories, namely, Sangalo Tea Factory Limited, Mbogo Valley Tea Factory Limited, and Tet Tea Factory Limited, Stegro EPZ Tea Factory Ltd, a Warehousing and Storage company, ABSS Warehouses Ltd and a Sugar Factory: West Valley Sugar Company Limited. • Providing legal counsel and guidance on a wide range of legal matters, including contracts, corporate governance, intellectual property, employment law, regulatory compliance, and litigation. • Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts, ensuring they align with the organisation's goals and protect its interests. This may include agreements with clients, vendors, suppliers, and business partners. • Identifying and assessing legal risks and developing strategies to mitigate them. • Advising management on potential legal implications of business decisions and proposing risk mitigation strategies. • Monitoring changes in laws and regulations relevant to the organisation's operations and ensuring compliance. • Developing and implementing compliance programs and policies to minimise legal risks. • Advising on corporate governance matters, including board meetings, shareholder relations, and regulatory filings, and ensuring compliance with applicable corporate laws and regulations. • Guiding on employment-related matters, such as employment contracts, policies, terminations, and compliance with labour laws. • Handling legal issues related to employee disputes, discrimination claims, and workplace investigations. Key Achievements • Successfully created and managed the legal department of the Group and managed regulatory compliance of 20 companies within the group, including NEMA compliance, EPZA Compliance, CBK compliance, Tax Compliance, Labour Compliance, Data Protection Compliance • Created a yearly legal and compliance audit system for a group of companies • Involved in the revival of Stegro EPZ Tea Factory Ltd, which was a tea factory that had initially collapsed due to mismanagement. Through my input, we were able to secure a moratorium worth Ksh 450 million, reducing an outstanding debt of Ksh 900 million with the Cooperative Bank of Kenya. I spearheaded its registration with the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) as per the Export Processing Zones Act and ensured it got relevant customs bonds from the Kenya Revenue Authority. The company is currently on track toward profitability. • Involved in the revival of Emrok Tea Factory EPZ Ltd, where, through my input, we managed to take over the company and negotiate for a loan restructuring worth USD 4 million in favour of the factory. • Registered and commissioned the first 1250 Tonne Crushing Per Day (TCD) sugar mill in Kericho County, West Valley Sugar Company Limited, worth Ksh. 2.5 billion, where I negotiated and drafted a contract to supply sugar milling machinery worth USD 13 Million between the Company and Saishida Sugar Equipment & Engineering Co, Pvt. Ltd. I also ensured that the company complied with the registration requirements captured in the Crops (Sugar) (General) Regulations, 2018 including engaging various stakeholders from the Sugar Board, NEMA, County government of Kericho and public participation with farmers, transporters and sugar vendors in the region. • Engaged the CBK in the registration of a Forex Bureau where through my input we have just completed the first stage of Name approval by the CBK and Registrar of Companies and also the registration of a Non-Deposit taking microfinance where I was able to get a letter of no objection from the CBK allowing the group to conduct the business of giving affordable credit facilities to its staff. • Engaged with various government authorities like the Nyayo Tea Zones authority, where I negotiated and drafted a green leaf purchase Memorandum of Understanding between Kipchimchim Group and NTZA, where the authority would provide green leaf to the affiliated tea factories. • Involved in international agreements where I assisted with the registration of a Dubai-based tea trading company, ABSS Trading Ltd. • Insurance matters involving the company, where I would liaise with the company's insurance and follow up on claims involving the group of companies. • Created an efficient conveyancing model for land purchases and lease agreements, where I created a due diligence form that guided the companies before making any land purchases. I further drafted all land agreements for sale and lease documents and oversaw the conveyancing process. Most recently, I was involved in the drafting and purchase of a USD 13 million property between the group of companies and James Finlay Kenya Ltd. • Reviewed and commissioned various loan and hire purchase agreements between multiple banks and group companies. • Created a data protection policy that is compliant with the current Data Protection Act 2019 • Liaised with various external counsel on cases involving the group of companies and created a case management system for the group of companies.

Associate

• Preparing legal opinions for various clients on issues including but not limited to public interest litigation cases, criminal law cases, human rights issues, and labour and employment-related issues. • Conducting thorough legal research on relevant statutes, case law, regulations, and legal precedents to support legal analysis and decision-making. This involves utilising various legal databases, libraries, and online resources to gather accurate and up-to-date information. • Assisting in the preparation and drafting of legal documents such as contracts, agreements, memoranda, pleadings, and legal opinions. This requires strong attention to detail, knowledge of legal terminology, and the ability to effectively communicate legal concepts. • Reviewing and analysing contracts, identifying potential risks, and making recommendations to ensure compliance with legal requirements and protect the organisation's interests. This may involve negotiating contract terms, resolving disputes, and maintaining contract databases or repositories. • Assisting in ensuring the organisation's compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards. This includes monitoring legal developments and changes in legislation, assessing the impact on the organisation, and providing guidance on compliance matters. • Providing support to attorneys or legal teams in various legal matters, such as legal due diligence, litigation preparation, and dispute resolution. This may involve conducting interviews, organising documents, preparing legal briefs, and assisting in court proceedings. • Assisting in providing legal advice and guidance to internal stakeholders, such as management, departments, or clients, on legal issues and potential risks. This requires a strong understanding of the organisation's operations and objectives, as well as the ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and concisely

Post Graduate diploma in Law

Data Protection (CIPIT)

Certificate in Data Protection

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

Journalism & Mass Communication

Certificate in Journalism & Mass Communication