Eric Mutua Elected LSK Chair

Nairobi-based lawyer Eric Mutua is the new chairman of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). Mr. Mutua won the election by wide majority in the polls held on Thursday 16^th February, 2011. He garnered 1,975 votes against John Mburu’s 603.

This was the LSK’s first ever elections to be conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.  The poll was conducted in 25 polling stations (High Courts) countrywide. Ms Lilian Rene Omondi was elected Vice-Chair person.

Those elected as Council members were: Waigwa Faith Waguthi, Sijeny Judith Ochieng, Mwamu James Aggrey, Weda Ambrose Otieno, Gichuhi Waiyaki, Angote G Nyausi and Kanjama Charles Njiru. Those elected as members of the Disciplinary Committee are: Kinyanjui Gladys Wamaitha, Siganga Beauttah and Onguta Joseph Omondi.

For full results: IIEC Website

For Detailed Story: www.capitalfm.co.ke

For Eric's Acceptance Speech: Youtube Video

Historic LSK Elections Held Today

Members of the legal profession today went to the ballot to elect a new chairman and council to serve for the next two years. This is the first time in the 60 year history of Law Society of Kenya that members have voted for their officials by way of secret ballot. The historic elections are the first under the new constitution and the out-going council was of the opinion that if LSK was to remain at the forefront of championing rule of law and justice, it must lead by example. The postal ballot was, therefore, shelved despite the clear provisions of the LSK Act for the fact that it is prone to rigging and corruption in favour of the candidate preferred by the incumbent chairman.

In the aftermath of the elections, the incoming LSK leadership will have to decisively deal with, inter alia, the following key issues:-

• The escalating costs and the dwindling quality of bar education in Kenya.
• The need to revise the LSK Act in tandem with the rights and freedoms of the members under the new constitution.
• The devolution revolution, that is, the urgent need to devolve the Society’s mandates to county and regional branches.
• The chequered future of legal practice in Kenya and the potential of cross-border legal practice in East Africa.
• The quest for better welfare of members and especially the need to develop housing schemes for lawyers.
• The poor pay of young lawyers and associates and their frustrations with the overall system as witness by the recent case challenging the two year term.
• The diminishing image of the LSK as the vanguard of the rights of all and the objective defender of the public interest in Kenya.

Each of the candidates for Council Chairmanship, Vice-Chairmanship and Council Membership made specific promises on each these issues in the run-up to the elections. Our job here at Lawyer-Kenya is to wish them the very best and look forward to hold them accountable in the best interest of the profession and its membership.