Lawyer Nelson Havi Sues LSK

Lawyer Nelson Havi has filed a lawsuit asking the court to compel the Law Society of Kenya to stop elections slated for February 12.

The lawyer asked the court to declare Section 18 (1) and Section 2 (a) and (b) of the LSK Act, 2014 unconstitutional as it discriminates on the basis of age and status for the election of the President, Vice President and council member.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Havi stated that he was qualified to vie for the seat since he had 15 years' experience as a practising lawyer.

Havi argued that he was admitted to the bar in June 2003 but has had "an illustrious career with tremendous service to the public".

[caption caption="Lawyer Nelson Havi"][/caption]

The vocal lawyer maintained that it was unlawful for the LSK to bar him from contesting before they had formed a board to run the election.

Havi was disqualified from contesting for the president's seat in the society on December 13.

LSK chief executive officer, Mercy Wambua, stated that Havi was ineligible as he had not been a member of the LSK council as required in its statute.

She maintained that Havi would not have attained 15 years of service as a legal practitioner by the time LSK was holding elections.

"You shall have attained at least 15 years' experience as a legal practitioner ... on June 12, 2018, which is over three months after the election date," Wambua stated in a letter.

[caption caption="Law Society of Kenya CEO Mercy Wambua"][/caption]

Additionally, he stated that he was pursuing a Masters degree at the University of Nairobi.