The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Rift Valley branch secretary general Geoffrey Kipngetich has raised concerns over leadership wrangles at their headquarters in Nairobi between council members and the society president Nelson Havi.
Speaking at the Bomet Law courts Friday, Kipngetich said that the wrangles have reduced the once reputable society to a laughing stock.
“LSK is Kenya’s premier bar association with over 17,000 members who should not be treated with theatrical acts,” he said.
Kipngetich said the society whose mandate is to use the rule of law in the administration of justice, empower good democratic practices and good governance was currently at the receiving end as Council members and its president engaged in boardroom wars that were now in public domain.
“We are a respected profession in conflict resolutions and settling of even the most complicated disputes but now the head office is setting bad precedent to other societies,” stated Kipngetich.
“The society’s role is to empower the legal profession and the citizenry with quality services, promote the rule of law and give Kenyans direction on all legal matters affecting them,” he added.
He pointed out that the society was wasting time instead of advising the government and the larger public in all matters relating to the administration of justice in Kenya especially during this period of the agitation for constitutional changes.
Kipngetich called on officials at the head office to resign en-masse and give room to other lawyers to provide quality leadership.“It is my considered opinion and that of the LSK Rift Valley chapter that it was high time the council members and Havi called for a special general assembly to elect new visionary leaders to take the society to great heights,” he said.
Kipngetich who was accompanied by other branch officials was at the court to condemn a recent incident where a senior member of the ministry of interior harassed judicial officials, demanding to be served ahead of others, which halted normal services for several hours.
The LSK officials said that they had recorded a statement with the police to have the errant official arrested and prosecuted for causing disruption of court services.
LSK was established by an Act of Parliament in 1948; by section 3 of the Law Society of Kenya Ordinance, 1949 and later repealed in 1992.
by Joseph Obwocha
