Attorney General Justin Muturi on Monday highlighted the significant challenge of understaffing within his office, emphasising that this issue has hindered the efficient delivery of services nationwide.
Speaking at a forum attended by legal practitioners, AG Muturi pointed out that the State Law Office faces acute understaffing, lacking lawyers capable of managing the workload expected of the office.
Muturi disclosed that, despite receiving cabinet approval six months ago, the establishment of offices in the 47 devolved units has stalled.
''Three months ago, I got a cabinet approval to establish in each county the Office of the Attorney General because it is about devolution,'' said AG Muturi.
Muturi posed that he is a firm believer in the Constitution and that his office needs to be facilitated to enable it to discharge its mandate effectively.
''Chapter six of the constitution states that every state organ should be devolved to the lowest unit,'' said Muturi.
He further stated that the shortage of lawyers in branches across the country has led to the delivery of poor services.
On June 27, a Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto in State House Nairobi approved the establishment of State Law Offices across the 47 counties.
''Cabinet approved the Memorandum and directed the Attorney General; and the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration to fast track and facilitate the decentralization process by establishing the State Law Offices in all Forty-Seven (47) Counties, hosted in County Commissioners’ offices,'' the Cabinet dispatch read.
The move to devolve State Law Office services was informed by the need to bring services close to the people and enhance service delivery.
Data posted on the Attorney General's website shows that the organ has 13 regional offices.
They are located in; Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kakamega, Malindi, Kisii, Embu, Machakos, Meru, Nyeri, Garissa and Kericho.
Attorney General Justin Muturi who previously served as the Speaker of the National Assembly was appointed to the position in October 22.
He took over from Paul Kihara Kariuki who had served under former President Uhuru Kenyatta after being sworn in in 2018.
