Janet Othero
CONTACT
TEL: +254 708329417
mulika@cavendrys.com
“Bold and clear in how she addresses very complex matters.”
Expertise
- Fintech & Digital Finance
- Emerging Tech, SaaS, AI
- Data Protection, Privacy and Data Transactions
- Telecoms, Digital Infrastructure
- Tech M&A, Private Capital & Commercial Transactions
- Crypto, Digital Assets, Blockchain & Virtual Asset Regulation
- Intellectual Property & Innovation
- Real Estate, Infrastructure & Financing for the Digital Economy
what chambers says
“A well regarded lawyer with broad ranging experience in acting for international clients.”
“A well respected TMT partner.”
“She has expertise in financial regulatory matters, cybersecurity and data governance.”
Chambers Global TMT and Chambers FinTech 2026
Janet advises on data protection, financial regulation, cybersecurity, corporate governance, licensing, dispute resolution and compliance strategy for clients operating in regulated and high scrutiny sectors. She is regularly instructed by international clients, financial institutions, and technology businesses on privacy risk, regulatory engagement, investigations, fintech approvals, governance frameworks, company secretarial support and sensitive contentious matters particularly where businesses face scrutiny from regulators, counterparties or affected individuals and need practical advice grounded in the realities of the Kenyan and East African market.
With over 15 years of practice, Chambers Global 2026 ranks her Band 2 for Technology, Media & Telecoms including Data Protection and Chamber Fintech ranks her Band 3 for Fintech recognizing her as being well placed to lead matters involving privacy risk, regulatory engagement, financial services compliance, and sensitive cross border issues.
RECOGNITION & CREDENTIALS
- Band 2, Chambers Global 2026, Technology, Media & Telecoms including Data Protection
- Band 3 Chambers FinTech, 2026
- Certified Data Protection Officer
- IAPP Certified Information Privacy Manager
- Chair, East Africa Law Society Data Protection Committee
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Advised a digital lending business on securing Digital Credit Provider licensing in Kenya, including corporate governance, compliance frameworks, employment policies, market entry structuring, and regulatory engagement.
- Represented a claimant successfully before the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in an employment related complaint involving a London listed company and a Kenyan listed company, including complaint strategy, regulatory engagement, and pursuit of relief in a complex group structure context.
- Coordinated the response to a cybersecurity incident for a technology provider, including alignment of forensic outputs with regulatory disclosure requirements, support on a USD 1 million plus insurance claim, and related dispute strategy.
- Advised cross border incident response counsel on Kenyan data breach notification requirements, including threshold analysis, timing, preparation of ODPC notification materials, and regulator engagement strategy in connection with a live incident.
- Acted for a global digital rights organization in constitutional litigation concerning alleged internet shutdowns in Kenya, and successfully secured its admission as amicus curiae in proceedings involving the communications regulator and major telecommunications operators.
- Advised on an East Africa Community connected regional digital platform project, including a large-scale data protection impact assessment, legal and regulatory audit, and implementation support to enable compliant cross border data sharing, rollout, and operational readiness across multiple East African jurisdictions.
- Advised a global tech platform provider on data regulatory issues, dispute strategy, and regulatory engagement arising across Kenya and Tanzania.
- Advised on governance, data protection, and information security arrangements for a national security operations centre, including inter agency coordination and safeguards for the lawful, secure, and controlled use of sensitive data.
- Advised a telecommunications operator on the drafting, structuring, and negotiation of core contracts for a telecommunications infrastructure rollout in Somalia, including procurement frameworks, service levels, implementation governance, and allocation of commercial and operational risk across the project documentation.