The Power of Mentorship and Networking for Women in Law – Rita Kaloki’s Journey
In a world where women in leadership continue to break boundaries, Rita Kaloki stands out not just as a legal professional, but as a woman committed to building others. Rita shared her remarkable journey in the legal field, emphasizing the power of mentorship, resilience, and meaningful connections. Here’s a deep dive into how Rita’s story is lighting the path for the next generation of female lawyers in Africa.
Thrown into the Deep End and Swimming with Sharks
Rita Kaloki’s legal journey began in 2015, and it was nothing short of a baptism by fire. “The minute I got admitted, I was thrown into the shark’s tank,” she recalls. Within months of joining the bar, she was entrusted with leading a new branch for her firm in Nakuru, far from her Nairobi base.
What seemed like a daunting responsibility turned into one of her most formative experiences. “It gave me a human outlook to professional interactions,” Rita says, highlighting the long-lasting friendships and networks she cultivated in Nakuru. Those early years outside the capital gave her more than legal experience, they shaped her into a leader who values depth in relationships, both personal and professional.
Building a Female-Led Legal Powerhouse
In 2018, Rita returned to Nairobi with a new mission: to build a law firm rooted in purpose and run by women. Starting small with just two employees in a modest office in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), Rita laid the foundation for a powerhouse legal practice. Today, her firm boasts a team of six, including three female advocates.
“We may be small, but we’re competing at the same level with our male peers,” she proudly shares. With an impressive client portfolio including major government agencies like KEMSA, GDC, IPRA, and banks such as Equity and KCB, her firm has become a recognized force in commercial real estate law and beyond.
Mentorship that Walks the Journey
Reflecting on her early years, Rita credits her former boss with mentoring her by offering trust and opportunity though much of the learning, she admits, came through real-world trial and error. “I was learning on the job. I didn’t have the luxury to walk into someone’s office and ask how to handle a situation,” she explains.
This experience shaped her current approach: hands-on mentorship. “I walk the journey with them,” she says of her junior colleagues. Her mentorship style goes beyond task delegation she helps her team understand the “why” behind every decision, every challenge, every success. Rita believes that mentoring is not about controlling outcomes, but about equipping others to think, act, and lead with confidence.
She shares one heartwarming example: a young woman who started visiting the firm while still in her first year of university. Today, she’s in law school and Rita hopes to absorb her into the firm after admission. “We’ve walked with her the whole journey.”
Redefining Networking in a Competitive Field
One of the most striking parts of Rita’s story is her candid reflection on networking in the legal world. While many assume that knowing the right people guarantees success, Rita quickly learned otherwise. “Being friends with people in high positions doesn’t automatically translate to commercial advantage,” she says.
Instead, she built her brand on trust, hard work, and consistency. Her firm’s longevity with major clients speaks volumes about the quality of service and professionalism she upholds. She has also strategically partnered with international hubs like the Netherlands Business Hub and supports Danish investors in Kenya—proof that networking, when built on credibility, leads to sustainability.
Final Thoughts: A Legacy in the Making
As she looks ahead, Rita is focused not just on growing her firm, but on creating a legacy, one built on strong female leadership, mentorship, and ethical practice. “You have to pass down the baton,” she says. For Rita, that means helping her team understand the full spectrum of what it takes to thrive in law not just winning cases but building businesses and relationships that last.
In her own words, “I think for mentorship, I’m doing a pretty decent job.” From where we stand, Rita Kaloki is doing far more than that she’s leading a movement.