Danstan Omari: How Fighting For Ruto In Court Transformed His Career

Nairobi lawyer Danstan Omari has in recent months amassed nearly the same level of popularity as any bigwig Kenyan politician or celebrity owing to his chain of representation in high-profile cases.

Omari has become a popular figure by himself in the Kenyan legal atmosphere, taking up complex cases involving some prominent personalities that usually, many other lawyers would be too hesitant to take up, and has had a considerable success rate in terms of securing freedom and justice for his clients.

"His Excellency the Fifth President of the Republic of Kenya Dr William Ruto was my client, that is I reached the apex at the children's court by representing him in the Abby case. I was his advocate. 

"Later I represented the former Chief Justice David Maraga in the children's court. The number of cabinet ministers, the number of top executives that I represented are numerous," he disclosed.

Owing to the demands for his services by high-profile clients, Omari had to change his lifestyle to ensure that he was available for blue-chip clients whenever they needed him. The changes, he noted, were well embraced by his wife who had stood by his side for the past 34 years. 

Omari would then go on to become a favourite in high-profile cases and featured from time to time in messy brawls pitting big names against each other in the legal profession including outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji and former Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti. 

His popularity is so big that he has often been ridiculed for strapping his boots, suit and tie on and a suitcase in hand ready for action at the request of people who need him.

“High-profile clients don’t get problems during the day. I always laugh at the memes that Omari is sleeping with the briefcase...practice has changed,” he explained.

Danstan Omari Profile & Being Ferdinand Waititu's Classmate

The 59-year-old was born to Elkana Mogaka and Milka Kemunto in Nyabite, Nyamira county, in a family of 12 children and coincidentally, shared the same class in high school with former Kiambu Governor, Ferdinand Waititu, even though he wasn't the brightest mind around.

“For my Secondary, I went to Ruiru Secondary School, I was with former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu. I was active in extracurricular activities and I diverted a lot of my energies to other matters.

"Hence, I scored a division three. I would go back to school, form three, at Kiabonyoru High School where I met former CS Fred Matiang'i. I did my Form Four, and I scored a division two,” he said. 

He thereafter revealed his discovery that very bright students do not succeed in life and that middle-level students are marathon runners and they are able to beat the odds and reach the top.

After secondary school, Omari went to Kenyatta University where he obtained a Bachelor of Education degree. He went on to become a secondary school teacher, teaching English and Kiswahili, but had a change of fortunes after 15 years in the profession, enhancing the common English phrase that life begins at 40.

“I decided to study law at 41. Every day I could leave Nairobi, drive to Kerugoya where I was a Children’s officer then come back for my evening classes in Nairobi. It was hectic.

"I was admitted as an advocate on the 4th of November 2011. And then I graduated with a masters 28 days apart,” he added.  

At the Children's Office, he was well known by his colleagues as the advocate who knew his stuff with regard to the law and especially on children's matters, and he would be introduced to clients who needed representation.

Since representing Ruto in the case, Omari grew from strength to strength and at 59, he feels that he is still young and can pursue a career in any field that he chooses, pointing out to the Shakahola massacre by stating “I might decide to do pathology, Shakahola has taught me that we don’t have enough pathologists in the country.”

Outside his career, Omari is a husband and father of two and has been married for 34 years.

“My wife decided to marry a person who metamorphosises like a butterfly, she has learnt to cope, I’m a fool to her, she’s a fool to me. In the wing I run for divorce, we were divorcing 25 people a week during Covid because they were not able to provide food for their families. My family knows this is how I provide.

“The keyboard warriors called Facebook and Twitter do not pay school fees for my children. They do not bring food to the table, people are busy making noise, and the oath we took is to defend anyone who has issues with the law. The public is emotional,” he affirmed.

Omari is now a headline over his decision to represent televangelist Pastor Ezekiel Odero, a preacher who was accused of, among others, terrorism, kidnapping and indoctrination of his faithful.