Hope for new dawn at LSK as lawyers vote

After  four months of campaigns, about 10,000 lawyers across the country went to the polls yesterday to elect their next leaders.

 The election is seen as a possible turning point for the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).

At Nairobi’s Milimani Law Courts, which was  the main polling station, hundreds of LSK members  started casting their votes from  8am. 

Among those casting their votes were the four candidates for president’s post; Nelson Havi, Harriette Chiggai, Maria Mbeneka and Charles Kanjama.

The race for vice-president had attracted only two candidates; Carolyne Kamende Daudi and Eric Nyongesa, who also cast their votes at Milimani.

A lawyer who requested anonymity for his personal security said the society has lately been accused of being tame and playing to the dictates of the State and abandoning its watchdog role despite it having played a central role in the second liberation of the country.

He said like in previous years, yesterday’s election was peacefully conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Results of the polls were scheduled to be out last evening.

It is said that there were 10,764 lawyers with valid practice certificates who were eligible to take part in the elections.

In Mombasa, the chapter chairperson Mathew Nyabena  urged officials who will be elected to ensure they hold interests of the citizens they serve at heart in their quest for administration of justice.

Nyabena, who spoke shortly after casting his vote, asked the incoming team to diligently work and focus public interest and guide Kenyans on constitutional matters.

It was a busy day for the learned friends as they sought to choose a president, vice president, council and the disciplinary committee in the nationwide LSK elections. Three candidates were vying for the Coast representative seat, which was deemed highly competitive.

“Cynthia Onyango, Kyallo Matata and Linda Emukule, are great people who we have always worked with and we all know they are eligible for the position they are vying for which makes it a very difficult decision to choose one of them,” said Erick Egunza, a lawyer.

In Eldoret, members of the LSK North Rift chapter led by Nandi Governor Stephen Sang trooped to the polling station at the High Court in Eldoret to elect national leaders of their choice.

The members drawn from Iten, Kapsabet, Kapenguria and Kitale towns started casting their votes at 9am under the supervision of IEBC presiding officer Jane Gitonga.

Redeem glory

Addressing the media after casting his vote, Sang accused the outgoing leadership of the society of not fighting for the rights of Kenyans.

“The outgoing leadership of the LSK has failed Kenyans in terms of pushing for implementation of infrastructural projects and delivery of services in the corridors of justice,” he said.

Sang said Kenyans have nothing to be proud of about the current LSK leadership as it has failed to advocate for the rule of law and fight impunity that is being perpetrated by those serving in the regional and national governments.

“We have seen several times the government and those serving under the same in senior positions ignore court orders and the society doing nothing to ensure the rule of law is respected,” said Sang.

In Nakuru, advocates  expressed optimism that the new leadership would help redeem LSK’s  lost glory.

Speaking after casting their votes yesterday, the lawyers said the previous leadership had been infiltrated by the political class which had sabotaged its mandate.

Lately, LSK has been accused of being vulnerable and allowing itself to be a puppet of the State and in the process leaving lawyers with little voice to criticise the State. 

Lawyer David Mong’eri lauded the electoral process, saying it was free and fair, warning that there should not be any interference from any quarters to manipulate the results.

“The rule of law has to be protected and it is proper that we elect officials who are independent who are able to give service to Kenyans,” he said. 

Lawyer Joshua Terer said the process has been orderly, adding that every lawyer got a chance to elect officials they believe will bring change. 

“This is a policy-driven exercise. Prospective officeholders give us their manifestos and we scrutinise them before making our choices,” said Terer. 

Nakuru IEBC representative in charge of the elections Gilbert Serem said nearly all the advocates voted with Nakuru station having a total of 285 registered voters. 

As of yesterday 2pm, 220 LSK members had voted which Serem said translates to 88 per cent of the total LSK voters in Nakuru.  – Reporting by Alphonce Mung’ahu, Monica Kagia, Winstone Chiseremi and Roy Lumbe