Senior Counsel Charles Kanjama has been elected President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) after securing 3,728 votes in elections supervised by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Kanjama defeated his closest rival Peter Wanyama, who garnered 2,616 votes, while current LSK Vice President Mwaura Kabata came third with 2,086 votes.

The poll drew participation from advocates across the country. Kanjama will take over from outgoing President Faith Odhiambo for the 2026–2028 term, with transition arrangements set to begin immediately ahead of a formal handover in accordance with society regulations.

Speaking after the declaration of results, Kanjama described his election as both an honour and a responsibility.

“I’m glad to benefit from the work of the Law Society of Kenya… It’s a responsibility to hold to those high pledges and commitments I made to the statutory role of the Law Society of Kenya, not to disappoint Kenyans, not to disappoint lawyers, my supporters and indeed all advocates both those who voted and those who didn’t,” he said.

Commitment to unity and professional standards

Kanjama praised the conduct of the election, noting improvements in how recent LSK polls have been managed.

“It was a gruelling race… All three candidates gave a good show. It was not easy to predict the winner until the last day… But that one winner has to embrace all the others so that we all become winners,” he said, emphasising unity within the legal profession.

He highlighted the importance of strengthening internal democracy within the bar and pledged to address workplace challenges affecting advocates, including concerns around harassment and professional conduct.

“We cannot have the strength to champion human rights… for other Kenyans when we are not able to champion it for ourselves in our workplaces,” he stated.

Priorities and outlook ahead of 2027 elections

Kanjama outlined priorities that include empowering senior and mid-level advocates to better manage professional environments, educating younger lawyers about their rights and minimum terms of service, and strengthening complaint mechanisms to ensure grievances can be addressed without fear of retaliation.

Looking ahead to the 2027 General Election, he cautioned that the country still faces preparedness gaps.

“We are not ready as a country… The Law Society of Kenya is going to champion the readiness of all the actors and players,” he said, citing the need for statutory reforms, boundary delimitation, adequate budgeting, and adherence to professional standards among lawyers serving in electoral and governance institutions.

The LSK plays a role in advancing constitutionalism, human rights, and access to justice, with the new leadership expected to steer its agenda over the next two years.