Kenya law society gets new chair

The chairman of the Law Society of Kenya Kenneth Akide. Photo/WILLIAM OERI

Lawyer Kenneth Akide took over leadership of the Law Society of Kenya on Saturday and immediately promised to continue the push for the independence of the judiciary.

Mr Akide trounced his closest rival - former vice chair Mr James Aggrey Mwamu - in the poll that was marred by claims of vote rigging and other irregularities. Also in the race for the chairman’s position was former council member Evans Monari.

Ms Florence Kajuju was elected the society’s vice chair, shaking off stiff opposition from Dr Ekuru Aukot, the chief executive of the Committee of Experts on Law Review and lawyer Morris Buluma. 

Mr Akide now replaces outgoing chairman Mr Okong’o Omogeni, who had served the society for two terms. He is currently the chair of the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission Advisory Board.   

On Saturday, an elated Mr Akide, whose election to the helm of the institution was announced at the LSK’s annual general meeting in Nairobi, termed his victory as a sign of confidence lawyers around the country had in him.

“It was highly and fiercely contested election with three candidates, who were equally able to represent the affairs of lawyers offering themselves. Each of us had our own policies but mine prevailed,” said Mr Akide at a news conference.

“According to the results, I garnered 70 percent of the votes cast during the elections...this shows that our members are confident in my abilities and I will not let them down,” he added.

But even as he celebrated his victory, Mr Mwamu, the immediate former vice chair, who had widely been tipped to ascend to the helm of the society, cried foul, claiming that he had been robbed off a well deserved victory.

The lawyer alleged that the results were doctored in favour of Mr Akide and demanded a thorough audit to ascertain who the true winner was.

“I have information that my votes were discreetly transferred to my opponents to ensure that I did not win the elections. I blame this to the outgoing chairman whose preferred candidate was Mr Akide,” said Mr Mwamu.

Mr Mwamu further claimed that one of those appointed to scrutinise the ballots was an agent of one of the candidates. “How does it happen that all those who were in my camp had been elected to the positions they were gunning for yet their general has lost...this cannot happen,” said the lawyer.

“I will therefore be making an appeal either for an audit of the results and subsequent recount of the votes. Should this fail, I will have no choice but to go to court,” said Mr Mwamu.

Mr Akide, also responding to the vote rigging allegations said; “In the elections, I am informed that 90 votes were spoilt. I garnered more than 1300 votes while my closest opponent got 800 votes.”

“Even if the 90 spoilt votes were added to my closest follower, he will still not have won. So these arguments that I rigged the elections are baseless. But I however welcome him to appeal,” added Mr Akide.

Other members elected into the LSK council include Mr Justus Munyithya, Lilian Omondi, George Ochich, John Maina Mburu, Faith Waguthi Waigwa, Joseph Munyithya, Alfred Ochieng Opiyo, Roseline Odede, Isaac Wamaasa and Eric Kyalo Mutua.