Proposed law sparks backlash over President’s role in Senior Counsel awards
LSK President Faith Odhiambo warned that the proposal threatens to erode decades of professional standards by shifting the process from an independent, merit-based system to political control. - Kenya breaking news | Kenya news today | Capitalfm.co.ke..
✨ Key Highlights
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Senior Counsel Bar have rejected a proposed amendment to the Advocates Act that would grant the President unilateral authority to confer the rank of Senior Counsel, warning it politicizes the prestigious honor.
- The proposed amendment, sponsored by Tharaka Nithi MP George Murugara, threatens to shift the award process from an independent, merit-based system to political control.
- The rank of Senior Counsel is the highest honor in Kenya’s legal profession, currently awarded based on vetting by the Committee on Senior Counsel, where the President's role is ceremonial.
- LSK President Faith Odhiambo emphasized that the title should represent “legal excellence earned through professional achievement, not an automatic title tied to public office.”
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Law Society of Kenya Challenges President on Senior Counsel Awards and Anticipatory Bail - August 2025
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has opposed a proposed amendment to the Advocates Act that would grant the President unilateral authority to confer the rank of Senior Counsel. The LSK and the Senior Counsel Bar warned this would politicize the honor. LSK President Faith Odhiambo also defended anticipatory bail, countering President William Ruto's claims that it shields corruption suspects by stating that strict legal thresholds are applied. In a related legislative development, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has proposed a bill to amend the Criminal Procedure Code. The bill aims to expunge criminal records for Kenyan youth who have served their sentences for non-capital or non-sexual offenses to improve their employment opportunities.
