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The race for the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) presidency has gained momentum with five lawyers hitting the ground running ahead of the upcoming election slated for March.

Nairobi lawyer Peter Wanyama, Carolyne Kamende, LSK vice-president Faith Odhiambo, Harriet Mboche and Bernard Ng’etich have been traversing the country campaigning to succeed outgoing Eric Theuri after submitting their nomination papers.

Kamende and Odhiambo handed in their papers on Wednesday and Tuesday respectively and thereafter started meeting LSK members, outlining their visions and manifestos as they solicited for their support.

Wanyama, Kamende and Odhiambo have promised to revamp LSK branches, push for good governance and improve the working conditions for lawyers.

Speaking to People Daily yesterday, Wanyama said he believes a wrong approach has been taken by the previous leadership in pushing for employment of thousands of unemployed lawyers in the country and distribution of over Sh1 billion collected every year.

“I will shock you with information that there are so many lawyers out there who are unemployed. LSK does not have statistics on the lawyers who are employed and if we do not have a leadership that does not engage in a structural perspective with the executive to push for penetration of areas to employ its members we definitely have a problem,” Wanyama said.  He said once elected as president, he would ensure to work on structural ways to deepen the legal market to secure employment of the thousands of junior lawyers who are unemployed.

“We will also work on the issue of decentralisation so that we encourage legal services to be based at the county level for legal practitioners. The members of LSK should know that l will work closely with business owners and counties to open up the legal market for them. We want lawyers to work in counties like Samburu, Mandera, Garissa and Baringo,” the lawyer stated. Wanyama who has 16 years experience in the legal practice says he is in the race to sustain the stability of the society.

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On the other hand, Ms Odhiambo has vowed to fiercely defend the rule of law if elected to lead the lawyer’s body.

“I ask advocates to support me so that we defend the rule of law with zeal and fierceness of our conviction. I promise a stable, responsive, fearless and progressive bar that cares not just for those receiving justice, but also those helping midwife it,” Odhiambo said on Tuesday.

Kamwende on the other hand says if elected she will seek to champion and safeguard the interests of her primary constituents—the members of the Law Society of Kenya.

“My hope is that the new leadership of the Law Society of Kenya will be brave enough to prioritise the welfare of young advocates. The welfare of young advocates should be a cardinal consideration in all decisions the council will be invited to make,” she said. “I also seek to safeguard the rule of law and constitutionalism, to defend judicial independence, and to remain true to the mandate of the Law Society of Kenya as set out in Section 4 of Law Society of Kenya Act, 2014,” Kamwende added.

LSK is also expected to vote for its representative to the Judicial Service Commission which is also coming to an end.

Among those who have declared interest in the position include lawyer Omwanza Ombati who also submitted his nomination papers for the position of the Law Society of Kenya’s Male Representative to the Judicial Service Commission on Wednesday afternoon.

“A representation that will deliver more opportunities for advocates within the Judiciary; will work with all stakeholders to remove bottlenecks in our diverse practice areas; and pledges to remain visible and accountable to you, the advocates, whom I seek to serve,”Omwnza said. He added that the acerbic attacks on the independence of the Judiciary by the President pose a grave threat to the rule of law and democracy.

“All Kenyans are bound by Article 3 of the Constitution to come to its defence,” he stated.