Brian Javis Otwal and Desmond Davis Otwal
When Brian Javis Otwal walked into the Supreme Court precincts on 20th November 2025 for his admission as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, he carried more than academic papers and professional credentials. He carried a story shaped by twinhood, a childhood dream, and an unexpected detour into the world of broadcast journalism.
Among the 920 advocates admitted that day, Brian stood out, not because he was a familiar face on TV screens for years, but because his journey to practice law was one he had walked side by side with someone who knew him best: his twin brother, Desmond Davis Otwal. As Brian marks his entry into the legal fraternity, Desmond celebrates ten years in practice.
As much as Desmond stepped into the courtroom first, Brian stepped into the world first by 40 minutes!
Brian Otwal admission to the bar on 20th November 2025
“We’ve always had a shared interest in law,” Brian says. “It’s something we hoped to pursue together, even before life took us in different directions.”
During the admission ceremony, Mwaura Kabata, Vice-Chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya, couldn’t help but comment on the twins’ striking resemblance. “I was surprised because I’ve been seeing Otwal practise for years, but today, seeing him admitted, I realised it was his twin,” Kabata said, adding, “It reminded me that I was also admitted ten years ago time truly flies.”
Born in Mombasa before the family moved to Nairobi in 2001, Brian and Desmond grew up like many twins: dressed alike, inseparable, and constantly compared: “Who is Javis, who is Davis?”
“Of course we wore the same clothes like traditional mother’s would dress their twin babies,” he laughs. “Later we stopped, but somehow our taste has remained similar. Suits, shoes we both love shoes. The only big difference is that he supports Arsenal and I support Manchester United!”
Their personalities too, are distinct.
“To my friends, I’m mchokozi and cheeky. To his friends, I’m calm and collected. It depends on who you ask.”
Interestingly, Brian and Desmond’s academic paths, which were intertwined in primary school, diverged when they joined separate high schools. Brian joined Kanga High School in Migori County, while Desmond went to Moi Forces Academy in Nairobi.
The four-year separation was temporary. They later joined Moi University, albeit at different campuses, having been coincidentally admitted by the Joint Admission Board (JAB). Brian was at the main campus, and Desmond at the Law campus.
Law was Brian’s first dream. But in Form Two, a media team from Kenya Television Network (KTN) visited his school. Among them was journalist Nimrod Taabu, now a news anchor at Citizen TV, who inspired him to consider journalism.
“That visit changed everything. I worked towards it and suddenly saw myself in the newsroom,” Brian recalls.
After scoring highly in KCSE, he applied for both law and journalism, but fate nudged him towards the newsroom. He studied journalism at Moi University and landed his first newsroom opportunity at Citizen TV in 2013.
A year later, he joined NTV, where he became a recognizable face in sports and human-interest reporting, serving as a sports reporter, news anchor, and a key part of the TopSport show segment.
After leaving the newsroom, Brian carried his communication skills into the humanitarian and development space. At Plan International and later at HelpAge International, he led advocacy campaigns on child protection, youth empowerment, and the rights of older persons across Africa.
“Whether in media or NGOs, my work has always been about giving voice to vulnerable groups,” he says. “That mission hasn’t changed.”
Despite his career success, the desire to study law never faded.
“I still had law at heart,” he says. “It was a calling waiting for its moment.”
In 2020, on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic announcement in Kenya, Brian enrolled for his Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Nairobi, UoN. It was a demanding season, balancing full-time work in the development sector with rigorous study, but he pushed through.
This year, that decision bore fruit. Brian, will now be supporting at Otwal & Partners LLP with his twin brother.
Desmond Otwal with Brian Otwal left and right respectively .
Desmond brings a decade of experience in commercial law and arbitration as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). That is, an internationally recognized senior qualification showing he is skilled in arbitration, a respected alternative to litigation. Brian brings strategic communications expertise, human rights advocacy, humanitarian experience, and a profound understanding of public policy.
It is a partnership built not just on law, but on lifelong trust.
“What inspired me was the interest we had for law and the interest to have something together,” Brian explains.
Brian is clear,
“My strength in advocacy and communications in the humanitarian and development sector is what I cherish more. Pursuing justice both inside and outside the courtroom.”
Now stepping into the legal profession alongside his twin, he brings with him the same dedication that defined his career objectives in Communications and Advocacy, including commitment to amplifying voices, confront injustices, and champion for the vulnerable.
“I’ve always wanted my work to make a difference,” he says. “Law just gives me another way to do that.”
Research from Northeastern University provides insight into how twins can pursue similar careers while maintaining individuality. In a 2024 study, researchers followed 20 twin pairs and found that, even when twins believed they were making fully independent choices, “they’ve made the same exact choices about their futures on multiple occasions.”
Laurie Kramer, a professor in the study, explained that “twins very much want to connect with one another … but they also need to find ways to chart their own identities and life plans.”
This reflects Brian and his twin’s journey: while they both chose the legal profession, each has carved out a distinct path shaped by personal interests, experiences, and ambitions, demonstrating that shared backgrounds can inspire parallel journeys without diminishing individuality.
