Alai faults LSK over legal reform, says advocates are being ignored
By Kiprono Keileb, July 28, 2025Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has publicly clashed with Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo over the current approach to proposed legal and policy reforms concerning advocates.
In a post shared on his official X account today, Monday, July 28, 2025, Alai took issue with a recent LSK circular that invited members to submit feedback on a preliminary report compiled by a consortium of consultants reviewing various statutes and regulations related to advocates.
Without mincing words, Alai stated:
“This circular misses the point. The core issues facing advocates are being buried under technicalities. These reforms should be people-centred, not consultant-centred.”
The circular, titled “Notice for comments on the first Report on policy and legal reforms of various acts and regulations concerning advocates in Kenya”, was posted by the LSK president earlier today on her X account, announcing that the first draft report of the ongoing review had been submitted and was available for member input until August 25, 2025.
According to the statement, the review is part of LSK’s broader mandate to improve the legislative framework governing the legal profession. However, Alai insists that the Society’s leadership is failing to properly engage with members at the grassroots level, especially younger advocates and those practising outside major urban centres.
“The LSK cannot afford to run reforms as if we’re ticking boxes for donors. These conversations must touch the daily struggles of advocates from legal fees, court infrastructure, mental health, to career development,” Alai said in his post.
His comments have sparked renewed interest in how the Society is handling what could be the most consequential reforms to legal practice in recent years.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo has yet to respond directly to Alai’s criticism, but earlier emphasised the importance of member participation in shaping the final recommendations. “This is your chance to shape the future of your profession,” read part of her statement posted with the circular.
The draft report itself has not yet been widely shared on public platforms, but members were encouraged to access it via a link provided by the Society (https://t.co/G5Qs0AfCyT). The reforms under review include proposals on the Advocates Act, the LSK Act, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) rules, and other key regulatory policies.
As the feedback window opens, today’s exchange sets the tone for what could become a highly scrutinised and debated process within Kenya’s legal fraternity — one that may not only test the resolve of the LSK leadership, but also redefine how the society represents its members in a changing legal landscape.