Citizen TV’s Linus Kaikai Reveals His Motivation to Study Law After Years in the Newsroom

Citizen TV’s Editorial Director, Linus Kaikai, celebrated a major milestone this week. Mr Kaikai was officially admitted to the bar as an Advocate of the High Court.

The ceremony saw him sworn in alongside hundreds of others.

He was among 920 advocates who took the oath of office before Chief Justice Martha Koome. This large group represented the highest number of advocates ever sworn in simultaneously.

Chief Justice Koome urged the newly sworn-in advocates to uphold justice. She called on them to ensure that the vulnerable, the poor, and victims of abuse are served.

She stressed that the legal profession should not be "purely transactional".Kaikai’s swearing-in was seen as a boost for promoting equality and access to justice for ordinary citizens.

The Inspiration: Injustice and Inquiry

Appearing in the studio hours after the ceremony, Mr Kaikai revealed what motivated his decision to pursue law. He explained that law had always been an area of interest. This interest dated back to his time in secondary school.

“I have actually always had law in the back of the mind as an area of interest. Actually, since way back in secondary school, I was inspired by the commission of inquiry,” he said.

He was also inspired by the cultural legal battles fought in court. He specifically recalled the famous SMO case.

This case involved a cultural question regarding the burial site of the late SMO. The dispute was fought between the Kager clan and the widow, OO.

Mr Kaikai told his fellow journalists he followed the case closely in the newspapers. During the Commission of Inquiry, he recalled seeing young lawyers engaging brilliantly.

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His pursuit of justice was heavily influenced by the fact that the Commission of Inquiry was never allowed to complete its mandate.

"That fire that burns in us about justice and doing the right thing, public interest, the law gives you the [weapon/tool], and it also gives you the spear. In addition to the journalistic pen, I think we can defend justice."

The Advocate's Burden

Mr Kaikai suggested that the drive to study law was also inspired by his brother. Now officially admitted, Mr Kaikai noted the seriousness of his new title.

He explained that the advocate role differentiates them from ‘commoners’. Lawyers and advocates are expected to reason similarly to people in the security services.

He described the new role as a ‘burden’.He suggested he should no longer "sound like a pedestrian".

"It's a burden, actually, all it says is I should not sound like a pedestrian anymore."

Celebrating with Cake

The historic moment was crowned with a celebratory cake in the studio. Mr. Kaikai joined his colleagues from "The News Gang" for the cake-cutting ceremony.

His colleagues joked about the difference between being a lawyer and an advocate of the High Court.

“So, instead of saying call my lawyer, it’ll be call my advocate,” one colleague, Yvonne Okwara, remarked.

The celebratory mood wrapped up the broadcast for the week. Mr Kaikai’s journey provides a striking example of how the pursuit of journalism and the pursuit of law can align in the service of public interest and justice.