Deputy Director, Legal Services at Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA)

REF. KEMSA/HR/LS/03/2026, SA3

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer,

PURPOSE STATEMENT;

• The purpose of this role is to provide strategic legal leadership by ensuring compliance, managing risks, safeguarding the Authority’s interests, and delivering high-quality legal advice, contract management, and dispute resolution services.

Duties and responsibilities will entail:

• Spearheading the development, implementation and review of policies, strategies, frameworks, work plans, legislations, guidelines, procedures, regulations, norms, standards and programs for the Authority;
• Spearhead provision of legal advice on contractual and statutory obligations, interpretation of statutes, subsidiary legislations, rules and regulations to ensure compliance with existing law and regulatory requirements;
• Safeguarding the Authority by ensuring it is adequately defended before the Courts of law and Tribunals by overseeing issuance of instructions, liaison with the Authority’s external advocates to ensure Authority’s interest while handling cases and conveyances on its behalf.
• Coordinate the initiation, review, drafting, and amendments where necessary of instruments for business transactions entered into between the Authority and third parties;
• Spearheading drafting, review and amendments where necessary contractual instruments entered into between the Authority and third parties;
• Oversee review of contracts or other documentation where the Authority has committed itself and assess legal implications necessary for the attention of Management to safeguard the Authority’s assets, interests & reputation;
• Coordinate management, review and monitoring of progress and status of outstanding litigation and advise on dispute resolution between various stakeholders and the Authority;
• Overseeing issuance of instructions, liaison with the Authority’s external advocates to ensure Authority’s interest while handling cases and conveyances on its behalf;
• Coordinating the initiation, review, drafting of necessary instruments for business transactions;
• Ensuring the Authority complies with constitutional, regulatory and relevant laws in force through the provision of legal advisory services;
• Ensuring risks arising from contractual engagements are effectively and efficiently managed;
• Spearheading advisory to management on all legal, regulatory and contractual matters;
• Coordinate, advise and negotiate on conveyance instruments on acquisition and/or transfer of the Authority’s assets and ensure proper registration of the same.
• Ensuring custody and accountability of the Authority’s seal, securities, agreements, minutes, titles and other legal instruments;
• Advising on mitigating measures for addressing risks in the department;
• Ensuring business continuity plans are developed and operational for the department;
• Initiating and implementing Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) in the department;
• Facilitating stakeholder engagement and fostering a corporate culture that promotes ethical practices and good corporate citizenship;
• Spearheading the development and implementation of the department’s strategic plans, budgets and performance contract; and
• Managing, mentoring, coaching and developing staff in the department.

Board Services

• Provide guidance to the Board on their duties and responsibilities and on matters of governance;
• Assist the Board in carrying out the following: Board members’ induction and training; updating the Board and Committee Charters; Board evaluation; Governance audit; and implementing the code of conduct and ethics;
• Preparing and managing the Board annual work plans;
• Coordinating preparation and circulation of Board and Committee meeting agendas and board papers;
• Preparing of Board Minutes, ensuring that they are confirmed and filed;
• Custodian of the seal of the Organization and account to the Board for its use;
• Maintain and update the Conflict of Interest and Gift Registers of the Authority;
• Ensure that Board members are aware of all relevant laws affecting the Authority;
• Monitoring implementation of Board decisions and preparing reports to the Board;
• Custodian of Board & Committee Minutes

Requirements for Appointment

For appointment to this grade, an officer must have: -

• Cumulative service period of fifteen (15) years’ relevant work experience, three (3) of which should have been in a management position;
• Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) from a recognized institution;
• Master of Laws degree from a recognized institution;
• Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law;
• Admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya;
• A valid practicing certificate;
• Certificate in Leadership Course, lasting not less than four (4) weeks from a recognized institution;
• Membership of the Law Society of Kenya;
• Proficiency in computer applications;
• Demonstrated managerial, administrative and professional competence in work performance and results; and
• Exhibited a thorough understanding of national goals, policies, objectives and ability to relate them to the legal function.