The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has denounced the list of 24 lawyers, among them former Justice minister Martha Karua and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who were conferred with the coveted Senior Counsel title.
Speaking to the media after State House made the announcement on July 20, LSK President Nelson Havi stated that President Uhuru Kenyatta acted with impunity.
He explained that the list had been recalled in May 2020 to give way to a process of compiling the list.
The revoked names that had been nominated in August 2019 by three judges among them Supreme Court Judge Mohammed Ibrahim.
“We want to call upon the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya, not to include the 24 advocates in the roll of senior counsels because they are not senior counsels,” Havi stated.
He explained that Attorney General Paul Kihara failed to sit through the meetings as required.
Two of LSK representatives who were supposed to be part of the proceedings of the conferment committee were also not involved, he alleged.
A new Senior Counsels Committee that was constituted to review the process is headed by Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi.
Ahmednasir said he was elected to head the exclusive club of elite lawyers for a period of two years.
“The main task is in how to increase the number. The president actually appoints senior counsels but it is on the recommendation of this committee.
“The last time there was a committee, some people went to court and they stopped it. So we want to untangle that process and increase the number of senior counsels from the current 25 which are too few,” Ahmednasir said.
Holders of the Senior Counsel title are deemed to be of high professional integrity and experience.
