BY IRENE ONYANGO.
Renowned city lawyer Peter Wanyama has thrown his hat into the ring as he seeks to become the 51st President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Wanyama who has practiced law for more than 16 years presented his nomination papers at the LSK offices with a promise to revamp the lawyers’ umbrella body if elected.
While addressing the media at LSK offices in Kilimani, Wanyama said he will offer leadership without excuses, give a listening ear and empower the LSK secretariat. He also promised to address the concerns and welfare of lawyers.
“As we speak, there is a big problem in the legal market. It is shrinking. Lawyers have no jobs while brokers are doing 40 percent of their work. Quarks are becoming rampant,” said Wanyama.
According to Wanyama, the current office failed to address the plight of thousands of junior unemployed lawyers as he promised structural reforms to ensure the young advocates secure jobs in the market.
He further stated that one of his major agendas is to support and expand the welfare of other LSK branches using the Sh1 billion collected every year by the lobby.
“As we speak, LSK collects more than Sh1 billion every year but if you go to other chapters like Chuka, they don’t receive a single shilling from LSK. In Mombasa, one of the oldest LSK branches doesn’t even have an office motor vehicle,” said Wanyama.
He added that his regime will ensure that the manner in which governance is handled in the country changes.
On the recent attacks directed at the Judiciary by President William Ruto, Wanyama expressed his disappointment saying the President was condemning the courts for doing its work.
“I want to tell the President that if he has any issues with the judiciary, he should raise them through the proper channels. Undermining the judiciary from his office as the President undermines the rule of law, and these are among the issues we are sort to stand against,” Wanyama insisted.
Outspoken lawyer Donald Kipkorir is among top lawyers who have endorsed Wanyama for LSK President position.
Speaking during the event, lawyer Danstan Omari endorsed Wanyama’s candidature saying he was best suited for the job.
“Anybody who seeks for a position of leadership in the LSK serves one term and goes out. It cannot be a place of career that people leave law school and they reside here. We want thr people who have been here to go back to Court and run the profession called Advocate,” mentioned Omari.
Omari further noted that the four lawyers competing alongside Wanyama have been in the corridors for a very long time with no visible development of the LSK offices and its environs.
