Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua, were on Monday, July 20, conferred with the title of Senior Counsel by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The two were among 24 lawyers conferred the coveted title by the president.
In a press statement issued by State House, the president highlighted the reason behind the conferrement.
"His Excellency conveys his warmest felicitations to the twenty-four Advocates whose controbutions to law and development have secured their place at the apex of their profession and at the highest levels of the national conscience," the statement reads in part.
The 24 were listed as follows:
OM Parkash Nagpal, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Fackson Wainaina Kagwe, Pravin Kumar Bowry, Charles Waweru Gatonye, Rautta Athiambo, Fredrick Ngatia, Mohammed Nyaoga, Philip Murgor, Albert Mumma, Beautah Alukhava Siganga Kiragu Kimani, Judy Thongori, Taib Ali Taib Bajabir, Wilfred Nderitu, John M Ohaga, Kioko Kilukumi, Patricia Mande Nyaundi, Dorcas Agik Odhong Oduor, Abdikadir Hussein Mohamed, Paul Otiende Amollo and John Mugwimi.
State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena further revealed that the conferement ceremony date was yet to be determined, but aded that it would be revealed in due course.
The process of joining the exclusive club of senior counsel involves vetting via the High Court before the final names are forwarded to Chief Justice David Maraga who in turn transmits the same to the President for gazetting.
The selection of the 24 means that 66 other applicants will have to bide their time for the next round of selection, as it does not follow a prescribed timetable.
Before the latest selections, there had been a seven-year gap since anyone was conferred the title of a senior counsel with the last time the title was conferred coming in 2012.
As currently published on the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) website, there are only 26 members of this exclusive club of lawyers.
However, some members on the list, such as Joe Okwach and Mutula Kilonzo Snr, have passed on over the years.
Prior to President Uhuru's latest gazette, there were only four women who were members of the exclusive club namely, Prof Kameri-Mbote, Ms Kambuni, Joyce Majiwa and CS Raychelle Omamo.
The senior counsel tag is considered the zenith of professional achievement for having irreproachable professional lives. It is similar to the Queen’s Counsel in the British legal system.
