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Doing it for the people

Monique Adams

Kishi Shakumu & Co Inc is a law firm that was established in 2008 by Silas Kishi Shakumu. The law practice specialises in local and regional law; civil and criminal litigation; drafting contracts; conveyancing/property transactions (in association with the Oliver law office); debt collection; registration of companies and close corporations; legal training consultancies; disciplinary and labour law as well as procurement law.

Over the years Shakumu has trained several legal minds that occupy important positions in government offices today. Kishi Shakumu is not just a law firm premised on legal services but is it a corporate family driven by empowering communities and effecting a better way of life through the practice of law, a benchmark for impact and the voice for principles.

“My interest in law started when I was a young boy. I have always been an advocate and spokesperson for my younger siblings and friends growing up, even though they stole sugar, I remember being their voice. Today, I strive to make a difference in my community by making law accessible to everyone including the tatekulu (old man) herding cattle deep in the village,” he says.

Just like any other business owner, Shakumu admits that establishing a business from scratch is no walk in the park. Where he is from, there is a way things are done. If someone you know is in trouble, you are required to offer assistance without hesitation, many times without payment.

“So far, our biggest business challenge has been curbing special requests from friends and family at a low price. Another emerging challenge is working with young people in the age group of 22 to 34 years old. They are very unstable employees, it’s hard if not impossible to rehire and retrain every five months as these young people are always looking for better opportunities,” he says.

Some of the law firm’s accomplishments include offering endless opportunities to young graduates. Currently the firm is managed by 10 young graduates, all from local universities. The firm also prides itself in having trained more than 600 people through its School of Law Foundation and Kishi Law Training Centre.

Shakumu envisions a bright future in the next five years. He hopes to be the law firm of choice for those who would like to speak on behalf of the voiceless. He also hopes that they will receive multiple awards and recognition in training and producing the best legal practitioners in the country.

Kishi Shakumu & Co Inc is committed to building the community from a grassroots level by offering training to traditional councils, high schools and university students through the Namibian Leaders for the Future youth development initiative that aims to build the leadership capacity of leaders from previously disadvantaged communities.

The law firm believes that real success comes with the territory but is better measured by exposure to the community. “Success is then based on your influx of new customers and their satisfaction is ultimately your success, as it is the engine pushing the car over the finish line,” he says.