The Court of Appeal has upheld the mandatory Law Society of Kenya (LSK) membership for all advocates, dismissing an appeal challenging the Advocates Act. This ruling reaffirms the constitutional legitimacy of requiring LSK registration to practice law in Kenya.

• The Court of Appeal delivered its ruling on Friday, 25 July.
• The appeal was based on the claim that mandatory membership violated Article 36 of the Constitution, guaranteeing freedom of association.
• The High Court had previously dismissed the same petition in March 2019.
• The ruling supports LSK's ongoing crackdown on individuals unlawfully practicing law, with five individuals recently arrested in Bungoma County for operating unauthorized law firms for 13 years.