Lawyers vote for new leaders in LSK elections

The much-awaited Law Society of Kenya elections have started.

The polls had faced uncertainty after a junior advocate, Mr Frank Ochieng Walukwe, moved to the High Court to stop the exercise because he had been locked out.

Both Mr Walukwe and the LSK, however, got a reprieve when Justice Weldon Korir ruled that he should be included in the ballot.

The judge faulted the lawyers’ umbrella body for violating his rights.

“This candidate was treated unfairly and this case is not about one’s popularity but a violation of rights; Mr Walukwe is qualified to contest as council member [and] therefore the decision to disqualify him is hereby quashed,” Justice Korir ruled.

The elections are being supervised by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and an estimated 7,154 lawyers are expected to participate in the voting.

COVETED SEAT
The coveted seat of LSK president is being contested by, among others, Nairobi lawyer Allen Gichuhi and two Kisumu-based lawyers, Mr Isaac Okero and Mr Aggrey Mwamu, who are looking to replace outgoing chairman Eric Mutua.

Other contested seats include those of vice-president, governing council, disciplinary tribunal, council of the Nairobi branch and a female representative to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Mr Mwamu is a former president of the East Africa Law Society, where he served from 2012 to 2014, and he is said to be banking on his legacy to win the top seat.

Besides the president’s seat, the female representative to the JSC position has attracted stiff competition because she will have a say in determining the successor of Chief Justice Willy Mutunga after he retires in June.

The contenders are Ms Jane Abuodha, Ms Mercy Deche, Ms Marykaren Kigen-Sorobit, Ms Florence Mwangangi and Ms Jane Njeri Njoki Onyango.

The deputy president's seat has attracted two candidates, Ms Jennifer Shamalla and Ms Faith Waigwa.

The winner qualifies for the governing council, which also consists of the president and 10 other members.

Eighteen contestants will battle it out for the other slots.

At least one member of the council must ordinarily be practising in Mombasa while at least two other members must not practice in Nairobi or Mombasa.

The voting is taking place at 25 polling centres based at the High Court or Law Courts in Mombasa, Malindi, Machakos, Kisumu and Milimani, and Supreme Courts in Nairobi, Nakuru and Kericho.

Other voting centres include Bungoma, Kakamega, Kitale, Kisii, Eldoret, Meru, Nyeri, Busia, Embu, Migori, Kitui, Mumias, Nyahururu, Murang’a, Thika, Homa Bay and Kerugoya.

The votes will then be tallied at the LSK secretariat's offices in Lavington, Nairobi.