Lawyer Willis Otieno has weighed in on the forthcoming Law Society of Kenya (LSK) elections, calling on advocates to elect a president who can firmly defend the rule of law and resist political pressure at a time when, he says, constitutionalism is under serious threat.

Taking to his official X account on the night of Saturday, February 7, 2026, Otieno warned against what he described as “regime apologists” and “ego-driven candidates”, arguing that the next LSK president must prioritise safeguarding the Constitution over personal ambition or proximity to power.

“We are in the electioneering period, and the LSK president must be someone who can stand firm and resist political pressure in defence of the rule of law and the constitution. There is no place for regime apologists or ego candidates,” Otieno stated.

LSK members’ welfare

He further dismissed the growing focus on members’ welfare as the central theme of the campaign, insisting that the biggest welfare issue for lawyers is the protection of a functioning legal order.

According to Otieno, benefits and comfort mean little if the justice system itself is compromised.

He also challenged LSK members to reflect on the broader role of the society beyond professional perks, saying the legal fraternity has a historic duty to act as the last line of defence against constitutional erosion.

“We cannot seek comfort in members’ welfare as the main issue in an election at a time where the rule of law is under massive threat from the executive and legacy politicians. What greater welfare do lawyers deserve than a functioning society in which the rule of law is respected and the constitution robustly applied and defended?” he stated.

LSK is scheduled to hold elections in the next two weeks, with the winner expected to succeed the society’s current president, Faith Odhiambo.

2026 LSK contenders

Current LSK vice-president Mwaura Kabata, former Nairobi branch chair Charles Kanjama, and past runner-up Peter Wanyama are vying to take over the leadership of the professional body.

The candidates have been traversing the country to court support from advocates, with a particular focus on the junior bar, which played a decisive role in Odhiambo’s victory in the last election cycle. At the same time, they are seeking to reassure senior members amid heightened debate over the direction of the Society.

Key issues dominating the campaign include allegations of corruption within the judiciary, concerns over governance and financial management at the LSK, and claims of government interference in the affairs of the Society.