When you meet Ben Musuta, two qualities will immediately catch your attention: his love of smelling good and his aversion to fame.
As the founder and managing partner of MMA Advocates LLP, Mr. Musota has quietly forged a formidable legal career, choosing to let his work speak for itself rather than chase the limelight.
Mr. Mosota’s love of great scents was evident long before I met him. His office has an abundance of green space. It has rubber plants, golden pothos, arrowheads, and even an Arabica coffee plant, all in pots.
“I love plants, I love nature,” he says with a smile, his eyes reflecting his calm and composed personality. At 41 years old, Mr. Musota’s journey to becoming a lawyer was predetermined. “When I was growing up, my mother always said I was very argumentative,” he says, laughing. “My natural inclination towards debate and reason made law a suitable career choice.”
After obtaining his law degree from Makerere University in 2007, he moved to Kenya Law School.
“There was no job waiting for me after graduation. It was a difficult period. I rushed to do everything from starting companies to doing briefs, slowly building my career brick by brick.
His breakthrough came when he got a position working with Ahmed Nasir Abdullah, one of the top legal advisors in Kenya. “I got a job with Mr. Abdullahi editing the Nairobi Monthly Law Review. Later I joined Mr. Abdullahi’s law firm. Three years later, in 2013, I expanded and started my own firm, MMA Advocates LLP. Daily chores.
Despite being a successful lawyer, Musota still avoids public attention. “Publicity will come when you’re handling a high-profile case, but there’s not much value in just being known for being in the spotlight. Some clients are very sensitive about publicity, and in law, confidentiality is key. Most of the cases I take are based on my track record.”
“Clients come to me because of what they’ve heard about my work, not because I’m in the news,” says the attorney with more than 15 years of experience.
“In the legal field, your best reference is your last client. If a client asks you to do something small and you do it very well, they will entrust you with bigger projects. As they say, to whom much is given, much is expected. If you are honest in small matters, You will be trusted with the bigger things.”
A typical day for Mr. Musota starts early. “By 4:45 a.m., I’m awake. I take a cold shower, recite basic surahs from the Qur’an, run to the mosque for dawn prayers, then come home and get ready for work.
Situations that he cannot handle
Mr Musota is now in what he calls the superlative phase of his career. “I choose the cases I deal with. I’m basic so I prefer to do some things but I do them very well. Mostly, I deal with commercial disputes and common law cases, which are the areas where I believe I can make the most impact with my skills.”
Despite his extensive legal knowledge, he prefers to avoid taking on some cases.
“Family disputes; succession issues, insurance accident issues, for example, I often refer to colleagues. They can take a very long time, and the real issues often come up later. In family cases, for example, there are a lot of emotions and issues.” Illegalities that cloud the early stages of a dispute. In commercial litigation, the issues are more straightforward: Was there a contract? Was there a breach? These are the types of legal questions I enjoy solving.
His Islamic faith also affects his choice of issues that he can or cannot deal with. “For Muslims, the Qur’an provides clear guidance on matters such as succession. Depriving an orphan of inheritance is one of the greatest sins, which is why I prefer not to accept such issues,” he says.
“My faith has taught me contentment. Temptations arise when you want more than you are given, but I believe that what God has written for me will come to me, even if it takes a year or two. This understanding has brought me peace.
He was born and raised a Catholic, and says his conversion to Islam was influenced by the work he did for and with Muslims.
“I grew up Catholic in Casey, but when I started working with Muslims, I was drawn to their values. I was inspired by their honesty and integrity. I watched how they carried themselves and what they refrained from doing, and that resonated with me.”
He converted to Islam and later married a Muslim woman, a marriage that further consolidated his faith. “Since then, I have made better decisions than I did before. Islam has taught me not to rush things or want them too much. Everything will eventually come in time.”
When Mr. Mosota is not immersed in law, he is an avid reader. “Every time I travel, I make sure I have a book with me,” he says.
“Right now, I’m reading Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. It’s a beautiful read that teaches the importance of focusing on less and more important things. It has really helped me manage my time and become more effective in my personal and professional life.”
His weakness
His most important indulgence? Perfumes. “As Muslims, we are taught that angels love a place that smells good. I was recently talking to my sheikh and he told me that although Islam does not encourage extravagance, it is permitted when it comes to perfumes.
He said that even if you spend half your money on perfumes, it is not forbidden. I love perfumes. I can spend maybe Sh300,000 on a bottle of perfume. Perfume is my indulgence. Recently, I’ve found myself drawn to Frederic Malle perfumes.
His love for perfumes is so strong that his love language is gifting perfumes. “To every friend of mine, the greatest gift I have given is perfume.”
Mr. Mosota is also a car enthusiast. “I enjoy the thrill of the trip. I love cars so much that every year I try to buy at least one. My favorite is a VW Touareg which I bought 11 years ago. I like it to be powerful and blend in easily with other cars. However, this is all part of human vanity “I love cars but I don’t want them to own me,” he says.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Mr. Musota is deeply committed to giving back. “At our law firm, we spend a lot of time and resources on corporate social responsibility, especially supporting orphanages and helping children attend school. It is a way to stay grounded and make a difference in the areas that matter most.
fatherhood
The father of two children says that fatherhood has taught him a lot of patience. “Sometimes I think my son should be like me, and I should teach him. Again, fatherhood makes you weak and a bit softer,” says the holder of a master’s degree in public policy.
The only thing that matters to him much less now than it did before? Fame.
“When I started my career, I thought I had to be very famous and be everywhere. That didn’t matter to me anymore. The value in law is in the delivery; giving solutions to your client. What’s the value of having a lot of publicity but losing the case? Publicity When your client still has a problem? “I want to offer a solution to my client first, and then if fame comes as a result, that’s all well and good,” says Mr. Mosota.
Ultimately, Mosota believes humility is key. “As Muslims, we are called to be humble. When you exalt yourself, you fall harder when things go wrong. I prefer to remain consistent and let my work speak for itself.”