Wako waves State Law Office goodbye

By Peter Opiyo

Amos Shistwila Wako briskly walked to his private car, momentarily stopped and waved goodbye as the State Law Office flipped a new Chapter to usher in Prof Githu Muigai as the new Attorney General.

Immediate former AG Amos Wako bids his former staff farewell before he was whisked away after handing over to Prof Githu Muigai on Monday. Photo: John Muchucha/Standard

The new occupant and staff watched in awe as Wako hopped into the sky-blue Range Rover cutting an aloof figure at the back seat, but still wearing his trade mark smile as he was chauffeured out of the compound for the last time as the boss.

The trappings of power were slowly fizzling out and he realised this and joked: "If my car is not around can somebody go to the gate and marshal a matatu." Never mind that no matatus ply Harambee Avenue where the State Law Office sits.

To him, his departure is fulfilling especially after the passage of the new Constitution.

"I am leaving with a lot of peace, a lot of joy," he told his former staff at the steps of the State Law Office.

Earlier, he had relived his 20-year tenure at the State Law Office, praising the staff for their support and urging them to do the same for Prof Githu, his successor.

The title Attorney General would still be with him, he said, but without the reverence that comes with it.

"At 11.32am, the title AG of the Republic of Kenya passed on to Hon Prof Githu Muigai, am no longer a honourable, just a Mr AG," he said, eliciting mirth from the staff. This is the time that Prof Githu was sworn in, on Monday.

Githu sought for support from the staff as he embarked on a mission to make the office efficient and effective. "I’ll be moving around to meet you at your work stations, so please don’t leave your stations. I am a manager who believes in management by walking around," said Githu.

Just like a team that changes its captain, Githu urged the staff that their spirit as players should never change.

"Obviously when the captain of the team changes, certain aspects of the way it plays changes but the spirit of how it plays never change."

Githu takes office at a time when the Cabinet has tasked a team to seek for the amendment of Article 81 of the Constitution to deal with the two-third gender requirement, arguing it would be impracticable to implement it.