BY SAM ALFAN .
Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has urged the lawyers to vote in persons who will champion the interests of the society in the upcoming elections for the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president and representative to Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
The veteran lawyer said lawyers should look at a broader picture while electing the society’s President and the LSK male representative at the JSC in February.
Speaking during a forum organised by advocates dubbed Inua Wakili Forum, the lawyer pointed out that the society has not gained much from the recruitment of judges from private practice.
Ahmednasir, a former LSK chairman and representative at JSC said the society is not well represented at the commission.
He pointed out that when judges of Appeal were being recruited, only one lawyer from private practice was appointed. This he attributed to poor representation.
Lawyers Peter Wanyama, LSK Vice President Faith Odhiambo and Nakuru based lawyer Bernard Ng’etich have expressed interest to succeed Eric Theuri while Nairobi based lawyer Omwanza Ombati and Theuri are battling to represent LSK at the JSC as Macharia Njeru’s term comes to an end.
The lawyers will head to the polls in February 2024.
Ahmednasir further advised the next LSK President to increase subscription fee for lawyers above 70 years so they can retire and make subscription of lawyers of one year into practice free.
He said once you reach 70 years you should retire.
He suggested that lawyers who have over ten years should pay Sh100,000 per year so the profession can have a 1billion dollar society and with that they can do more.
He added that LSK must be an alternative when we have an opaque JSC or if the judiciary is not cooperating.
The veteran lawyer said Chief Justice Martha Koome and the LSK must talk about corruption in the judiciary.
Ahmednasir added that when CJ and LSK talk about corruption and corrupt judges and magistrates fears but when she doesn’t they think it is normal.
VP Odhiambo believes that a wrong approach has been taken by agitators in pushing for gender equity, and particularly, the enactment of the two-third gender rule among others.
Lawyer Wanyama who has unleashed a strong campaign seems to focus on young advocates, climate change litigation, technology among others.
Wanyama has reiterated the integral played by lawyers in drafting and crafting institutions’ policies and legal mechanisms arguing lawyers should sit in every government institution to guide on such issues.
He says if elected he will do what it takes to knock doors for LSK especially on the climate change agenda.
