The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Senior Counsel Bar have firmly opposed a proposal seeking to amend the Advocates Act to give the President unilateral powers to confer the title of Senior Counsel.
This comes after Tharaka Member of Parliament George Murugara sponsored the amendment, which the two legal bodies say threatens to erode the credibility and independence of the highest honour in Kenya’s legal profession.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo, speaking during a joint press conference with the Senior Counsel Bar on Friday, warned that such a change would undermine decades of professional integrity by shifting a peer-reviewed process into the hands of political officeholders.
She stressed that the title must remain a mark of legal excellence earned through merit and professional achievement rather than an automatic privilege tied to political influence.
Ms. Odhiambo emphasised that the current process is based on merit, peer review, and independence from politics, and that these principles must be protected.
She urged the lawmaker to withdraw the amendment entirely, reaffirming that any reform of the Advocates Act should follow the proper public participation process and protect existing professional standards.
The LSK President assured that the society remains committed to constructive engagement in shaping reforms, but only in ways that defend the integrity of the legal profession.
The Senior Counsel title is not handed out lightly. It is reserved for lawyers who have displayed exceptional skill in advocacy, contributed meaningfully to the development of law, and shown outstanding leadership. Names such as former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, former Attorney General Githu Muigai, and political leaders Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka stand out among past recipients.
These individuals earned their recognition after years of work that set them apart from their peers, and the LSK insists that this tradition should not be diluted.Meanwhile, the Senior Counsel Bar recently ushered in a new leadership team.
Philip Murgor now serves as Chairperson, with Joyce Majiwa as Vice-Chairperson and Charles Kanjama as Secretary. Murgor takes over from Dr. Fred Ojiambo, who retires after more than a decade of leadership, having succeeded the late Mutula Kilonzo in 2013.
The change of leadership comes at a time when the Senior Counsel Bar is uniting with the LSK to resist what they see as a dangerous precedent that could politicise one of the profession’s most respected honours.
Both bodies maintain that the role of Senior Counsel is a badge of earned excellence and should be protected from political interference to ensure that future generations of lawyers inherit a profession rooted in integrity, merit, and independence.
