LSK poll gains pace amid political support claims

Lawyers go to the polls on Thursday with the three candidates seeking the presidency of the Law Society of Kenya pulling out all stops to win.

Accusations and counter-accusations of aspirants being bankrolled by government have hit fever pitch with the three presidential candidates, Mr James Aggrey Mwamu, Mr Allen Waiyaki Gichuhi and Mr Isaac Edwin Okero, all denying political backing.

But outgoing Chairman Eric Mutua claimed it is not a secret the government is supporting certain candidates. “They are using money to influence the elections,” he said.

Outgoing Chief Executive Apollo Mboya said the new officials should be beyond political manipulation if they want to make the society vibrant again.

Lawyers want the new officials to bring change to the society and rekindle the potency it had when Willy Mutunga, Paul Muite and Ahmednasir Abdullahi were at the helm.

While traditionally the focus will be on the Law Society of Kenya presidency and the governing council, the woman representative post at the Judicial Service Commission has attracted stiff competition.

The contest is particularly important because of the role the commission plays in the appointment of the Supreme Court, the ultimate determinant of an election dispute.

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga retires in June, a year to the 2017 General Election, while Deputy Chief Justice Kalpana Rawal and Justice Philip Tunoi are battling in court to change their retirement dates.

The impeding retirements have intensified the fight to influence who joins the commission.

Those seeking to fill the woman rep post are incumbent Florence Mwangangi, Ms Jane Abuodha, Ms Mercy Deche, Marikaren Kigen and Ms Jane Onyango.

REBRANDING

A total of 7,154 lawyers are seeking to elect a new president, vice president, council members, a female representative in the JSC, members of the disciplinary tribunal and head of the newly established Nairobi branch.

The elections will be conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission in 25 stations across the country.

Also top on the agenda will be the controversial Sh1.2 billion international arbitration centre, which has divided lawyers.

While the outgoing leaders insist the arbitration centre is a good idea that must be implemented by the new officials, the three candidates for the presidency said it was premature and should be stopped until all lawyers embrace it.

“The project should be abandoned and those who paid should get their money back. You cannot say you are doing something on behalf of the society when members have not been consulted,” said Mr Okero.

There has also been claims that the proliferation of law schools has watered down the quality of law graduates.

The top candidates say they will work with the Council of Legal Education to revamp the curriculum and ensure institutions meet standards.

The law society president and his deputy, a post which has attracted two candidates, Ms Jennifer Shamalla and Ms Faith Waigwa, automatically qualifies for the governing council.

Eighteen other candidates are battling for the remaining 10 posts.

Outgoing council member Dennis Mosota said the new council should mend the rift created by the arbitration centre project.

“The new council must fight the new wave of corruption in the judiciary. We did out part despite the numerous challenges,” he said.