Lawyers reject bid to give President power to appoint Senior Counsel
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), in partnership with the Senior Counsel Bar, has strongly opposed a proposed amendment to the Advocates Act that would allow the President to unilaterally confer the prestigious title of Senior Counsel.
In a statement by Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo on Friday, August 15, 2025, she warned that the amendment threatens to erode decades of professional standards by politicising a process that has long been anchored in merit, peer review, and independence from executive influence.
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“The Law Society of Kenya, in conjunction with the Senior Counsel Bar, is firmly opposing the proposed amendment to the Advocates Act that seeks to grant the President unilateral authority to confer the rank of Senior Counsel,” Faith said.
According to the LSK President, the Society and the Senior Counsel while opposing the amendment, will undermine their standards by shifting authority to confer the prestigiuous ranks to political officeholders,while arguing that the process should remain merit-based.
“The proposed amendments risk undermining decades of hard-won standards by shifting authority to confer this prestigious rank to political officeholders. This process must remain merit-based, peer-reviewed and independent of political influence,” Faith noted.
On her part, the Senior Counsel should maintain the role of representing legal excellence, which the LSK President states is earned through professional achievement and not tied to a public office.
“Senior Counsel should continue to represent legal excellence earned through professional achievement, not an automatic title tied to public office.” she added.
LSK stand
In addition, the LSK boss noted that Society upholds the principle that only advocates who meet the highest standard of distinction are conferred with the honour.
“We uphold the principle that only advocates who meet the highest standard of distinction are conferred this honour. Safeguarding this process protects not just the dignity of the rank, but the integrity of our profession.” Faith added.
Notably, the proposed change, fronted by Hon. George Gitonga Murugara, has sparked concern within Kenya’s legal community, with fears it could open the door for politically motivated appointments. LSK on its part has emphasised that safeguarding the integrity of the legal profession begins with upholding the independence of such critical processes.
LSK has called for the immediate withdrawal of the amendment and pledged to continue engaging constructively on reforms that protect the dignity and standards of the legal profession, as provided under the Law Society of Kenya Act.
“We call on Hon. George Gitonga Murugara to unconditionally withdraw this amendment and reaffirm the existing legal framework supported by public participation. The Law Society will continue to engage constructively, as provided under the Law Society of Kenya Act, to shape reforms in defense of our professional standards,” Faith added.
