The case of two Otienos and the making of lawyer Oluga

“When I write my biography one day, I will have a chapter called ‘The Case of the Two Otienos and the Inspiration of a Young Mind,’” Willis Oluga says.

The two Otienos—criminal lawyer SM Otieno and Richard Otieno —left a lasting impression on him during his formative years.

When SM passed on in 1986, his death triggered a protracted legal battle between his Luo clansmen and his Kikuyu widow, Wambui Otieno, over his burial site.

Richard, Oluga’s neighbour, handled the case, earning admiration for his professionalism and tenacity.

“That case fascinated everyone in Simenya village,” Oluga recalls. “I didn’t fully understand what being a lawyer meant, but I knew it made people famous. I wanted that too.”

Richard’s charisma and success saw him drive a sleek Mercedes Benz and he would be celebrated in local schools whenever he visited.

Oluga who watched from a young age how law commanded respect and influence, was inspired.

Oluga was born 42 years ago in Simenya, Ugunja constituency, Siaya county. Tragedy would strike and his father, a plumber, died when he was just eight and in Class 3 at Simenya Primary School.

His mother, a housewife with no formal education, was left to raise him and seven siblings on her own.

“It was a real struggle. There was no steady income; we only did small-scale subsistence farming. We would wake at 3 am, till the land using a tin lamp, and then go to school,” Oluga recalls.

Despite these hardships, his mother prioritised education.

“If you missed school without a valid reason, she would take your hand, drag you to school, and even ensure the teacher caned you before she did,” he says.

She instilled in us the value of literacy, emphasising that her children should at least be able to write letters for themselves and others, a skill she herself had been denied.

Financial constraints made schooling a constant challenge. It took Oluga 10 years to complete primary school education.

He repeated Class 3 after missing exams due to his father’s death and again repeated Class 7 after failing to pay the Sh300 mock exam fees.

To raise money, he sold sugarcane, buying at Sh10 and selling at double the price until he could afford the remainder of his school fees.

A compassionate teacher later covered his KCPE exam fee, allowing him to sit the exams successfully.

Oluga emerged as the best student in his primary school, earning an admission to Simenya Secondary School where he scored an A-.

It was a historic achievement; the school had never sent a student to the university.

“When I joined, the school’s first university student had scored a B plain and became a teacher. We broke that record with an A-, and the school’s name went into newspapers. Enrollment skyrocketed,” Oluga proudly recalls.

At Simenya Secondary, Oluga gravitated towards law early. He joined the Law Club, often playing the role of prosecutor in mock court sessions. Yet his teachers, particularly his Biology teacher who christened him Dr Oluga, pushed him towards medicine.

In Form Four, under teacher supervision, he listed medicine as his first-choice course for university. But deep down, he remained committed to law. Upon receiving his results, he revised his choices, putting law first and gained admission to Moi University.

He graduated in 2007 and was admitted to the bar in 2009.

Oluga’s legal career spans over 16 years, including time as a legal researcher at the Judiciary. There, he gained invaluable experience, observing the work ethics and strategies of some of Kenya’s most esteemed judges.

“The corridors of justice taught me that diligence and integrity are as important as legal knowledge,” he reflects.

Early in his private practice, Oluga learnt firsthand how image shapes perception.

A German client initially doubted his credibility due to the location of his office atop a pub in Mtwapa.

They had to navigate past intoxicated patrons to reach him, causing the client to question his professionalism.

Oluga later relocated to a more suitable office in Mombasa CBD, securing the client’s trust and the deal. “Sometimes the image you project can give you or deny you work,” he says.

Oluga has handled high-profile cases with societal impact. In Mombasa county, he challenged the government’s plan to evict tenants from ageing estates slated for regeneration.

Many had lived there for years with no alternative homes. Oluga went to court and halted the evictions until the authorities implemented a structured and lawful process.

The case forced the county to consult tenants, creating a blueprint for fair relocation.

Oluga also navigated complex commercial disputes, including a conflict over rent with Nakumatt, a major supermarket chain. Representing his client, the mall owner, he had to balance professional duty with personal sentiment, as he had fond memories of shopping at Nakumatt.

Negotiations and court interventions eventually led to partial recovery of owed rent, showcasing his skill in mediating high-stakes, sensitive matters.

Throughout his journey, Oluga emphasises the blend of resilience, mentorship and integrity that shaped him.

He credits the inspiration from the two Otienos, his mother’s unwavering support and his own persistence.

From a curious village boy captivated by legal luminaries to a respected lawyer influencing justice in Kenya, Oluga’s story underscores how determination, ethical grounding, and a clear vision can turn childhood fascination into a lifetime of impact.