The Principal Legal Officer shall report to the Assistant Director, Legal Services, and shall provide technical leadership for specific legal work, including the supervision of subordinate officers.

(a)  Job Specifications

An officer at this grade will:

(i)          Implementing the Authority’s legal policies and procedures, and conducting legal research on emerging legislation, case law, and regulatory developments affecting the Authority;

(ii)         Preparing legal opinions and advisory memoranda on matters referred to the legal function, and supporting senior officers in liaison with the Office of the Attorney General;

(iii)        Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), service-level agreements, leases, and other legal instruments, ensuring legal soundness and protection of the Authority’s interests;

(iv)       Implementing the custody and management of the Authority’s legal documents and the maintenance of records of legal status of assets, liabilities, and claims;

(v)         Preparing Board and Committee agenda, papers, minutes, and resolutions, and supporting Board induction, training, and governance compliance activities;

(vi)       Implementing routine engagement with regulatory agencies, statutory bodies, and oversight institutions on legal and compliance matters;

(vii)      Operating the register of conflicts of interest, the Code of Conduct and Ethics implementation framework, and the governance compliance reporting system;

(viii)     Preparing licence applications, statutory returns, annual filings, and licence renewal documentation, and conducting compliance assessments;

(ix)       Conducting litigation support activities, including the preparation of pleadings, witness statements, and instructions to external counsel, and attending court proceedings as required;

Person Specifications

For appointment to this grade, a candidate must have:

(i)          Cumulative service of nine (9) years of relevant work experience, three (3) of which must have been served at the grade of Senior Legal Officer or in a comparable and relevant position in legal practice, corporate governance, or regulatory affairs;

(ii)         A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from a recognised institution;

(iii)        A Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Kenya School of Law;

(iv)       Admission as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a current valid practising certificate;

(v)         Membership in good standing of the Law Society of Kenya;

(vi)       A certificate in a Management Course lasting not less than four (4) weeks from a recognised institution;

(vii)      Proficiency in computer application skills; and

(viii)   Demonstrated merit and ability as reflected in work performance and results.