My love for the sea

Nyambura Kimani, 22, chose a path rarely taken. The girl who loves fashion and trends shares her interesting career path with TRICIA WANJALA

What do you do?

I’m Kenya’s youngest maritime lawyer. As a kid, I was fascinated by the greatness of the sea. I knew I was always going to be a lawyer. In 2009, I did a brief attachment at Kenya Maritime Authority and found I could merge my two loves. I took the advice of the director of Kenya Maritime Authority and applied for my Masters from a reputable agency of the United Nations in Malta in southern Europe.

What does a maritime lawyer do?

Maritime law is the law of the sea. It involves anything to do with marine pollution, pirates, ship insurance, ship registration and ports. Most of them are in Mombasa — I don’t think there are more than 12 maritime lawyers in Nairobi.

Why is there a need for people in your profession?

There are few qualified maritime lawyers and many things are going wrong. There was, for instance, conference on piracy in London recently and there was no Kenyan representative on that committee. Policies are passed without our views.

What was Malta like?

Malta was beautiful. It is a hidden treasure — one of those places you go for the holiday of a lifetime. The population is only 652,000. The people are very hospitable plus the food is great. Until last year, no divorce was allowed in their law. The girls are put on a pedestal and the women are valued. They are very curvaceous with big behinds and all — not your typical Europeans. I am definitely going to live there at some point in my life.

How was your student experience?

It was a very intensive course, mainly for older people. It was daunting but the more I interacted with them, the more we became a family and I was the baby of the school. It is such a clever thing bringing 30 people from developing countries.

What was unique about your classes?

Every day was a challenge — a dissertation to write, a draft project to write on behalf of Kenya. We would meet ambassadors from different countries at least twice a week. There was never a dull moment.

What are your future career plans?

Currently I am working for a Nairobi law firm. I plan to take the Kenya marine sector to where it should be. We’ve got a lot of potential, with 600km of coastline. I want to get involved with the privatisation of the ports, including the one being built in Lamu. It will take some years, but it’s something to look forward to. I would not tamper with the heritage of Lamu. Instead it will bring tourism and create jobs.

What is so important about your job?

One of the primary things about maritime law is to ensure minimal danger to the environment. We don’t want a situation like the Deep Sea horizon years ago, which interferes with our eco-system and food chains. Kenya is still on the stage of policy making and it’s included in the new Constitution. That’s why we have agencies like the Kenya Maritime Authority. They are the ones who enforce policies on behalf of the Government and advise them regarding signing of treaties that are in our best interests.

What are your hobbies?

I travel a lot. I love experiencing other people’s perception of the world. I also work out daily and I love to dance. I enjoy golf too. It’s a sport that quietens your mind and challenges your body. I like modelling, fashion and I’m really into trends. I also love shopping.

To what do you attribute your success?

I’ve always had a supportive family. My mom has always encouraged me. She sees things in me that I don’t see in myself. My elder brother is the voice of reason, and my younger sister and I are such good friends.

Normally when one chooses an unusual career, naysayers discourage you saying, “there’s no market for that!” What is your take?

Listen to your heart and to God. Work hard and consistently. I have this really big fear of failure, which acts as a motivation, even in my personal goals. I also know how to give myself a break. I always say we can only move in one direction and that’s forward.