The Law Society of Kenya has moved to void the August 26, 2019 nomination of lawyers to be conferred with the rank of senior counsel.
Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and former Justice Minister Martha Karua who highlighted the class of 2019 would now be considered along with nominations made in 2020.
Other prominent names on the 24-person list were Dorcas Oduor, renowned family lawyer Judy Thongori, Patricia Nyaundi, Kioko Kilikumi, John Ohaga and former Director of Public Prosecutions Philip Murgor.
Also on the list were; Rautta Athiambo, veteran lawyer Fred Ngatia, Wilfred Nderitu, Professor Albert Mumma, Pravin Bowry, the former Assistant Director (Legal Services) of the defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACCA), and John Chigiti, among others.
The names were to be forwarded to Chief Justice David Maraga after which they would be presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta for gazetting.
The nominations in 2019 marked seven years since any person was conferred the title of a senior counsel. The last time the title was conferred was in 2012.
Kalonzo, Karua and the rest of the nominees received their notification letters on September 19, 2019, after they were successfully vetted by the Senior Counsel Committee.
LSK's website indicates that there have only been 26 members of the senior counsel and their nomination would have raised the number of lawyers in the exclusive club to 48, excluding two deceased lawyers; Joe Okwach and Mutula Kilonzo.
“The committee at its meeting held on August 26, 2019, considered your application. We are pleased to inform you that your application was successful,” the letters read in part.
Former LSK president Allen Gichuhi, former LSK president Eric Mutua, former East Africa Law Society president James Mwamu and Professor Ben Sihanya are some of the big names to have previously missed out on the nomination.
Holders of the Senior Counsel title are often deemed to be of high professional integrity and experience.
