LSK Management Wrangles Worsen

LSK President Nelson Havi
Former President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Nelson Havi in his office in Nairobi County.
File

A war of words has erupted between Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi and the society’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mercy Wambua. The leadership wrangles within the society publicly soared on Friday, July 9 after Havi, in a press statement, called out Mercy Wambua for thwarting plans for a planned audit on the use of allocated funds.

Through that same statement that Havi read at the society’s headquarters in Nairobi, he accused Wambua of being in office illegally and colluding with financial institutions to deny members statements of expenditure. He added that she failed to alter signatories to banks in which accounts of the society are registered.

According to Havi, the society’s efforts to access bank statements were frustrated and this consequently compromised the planned internal audit. It is alleged that this failure could be traced to deliberate acts by Wambua. A previous conclusion by members to have her on compulsory leave failed as she rebuffed instructions to vacate office.

LSK CEO Mercy Kalondu Wambua.
LSK CEO Mercy Kalondu Wambua.
File

Nelson Havi reported that the CEO had made over Ksh 70 million worth of transactions devoid of both standard procedure and the approval of members. She also opened a mobile pay bill number through which millions of shillings were received without the council’s knowledge, further alluding to the rogue nature of operations.

Letters and notices were addressed to the banks but were rendered futile as Wambua rescinded them and instead instructed them not to avail statements. Havi noted in his statement that she fearfully avoided planned audits.

“It is evident that there is an entrenched relationship between Mercy Wambua and officers in all banks where accounts of the society are domiciled,” read the society’s president.

In her defense, Wambua brushed off Havi’s claims, stating that the allegations were false and infact fictitious. She emphasized that her stay in office was legally sanctioned after the courts revoked a proposition that would have her out on compulsory leave. Wambua added that accusations of ‘lost’ funds were unsubstantiated.

Nelson Havi assumed office at the Law Society of Kenya in February 2020 as its 49th president. Various legal analysts and the country’s young law practitioners envisioned him as an injector of new energy in the organization.

However, his tenure has been characterized by internal divisions. By the time he dismissed CEO Mercy Wambua, 9 members sided with her. In response, Havi called for their expulsion too on the account of insubordination. However, a court directive rescinded the decision.

The eight council members were Bernard Ng’etich, George Omwansa, Carolyne Mutheu, Aluso Ingati, Faith Odhiambo, Beth Michoma, Ndinda Kinyili and Riziki Emukule.

On Friday, July 8 Nelson Havi once again termed their position in office to be illegal and called for their replacement with new officials.

LSK President Nelson Havi and other Lawyers during Court of Appeal Final Session
LSK President Nelson Havi and other Lawyers during Court of Appeal Final Sessio
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