Three top lawyers declare interest in LSK presidency
Lawyers Omwanza Ombati (left) Eric Theuri and Bernard Kipkoech Ng’etich. They have declared interest in Law Society of Kenya presidency.
Three top lawyers have declared their interest in the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) presidency in the forthcoming elections.
Lawyers Omwanza Ombati, Eric Theuri from Nairobi and Bernard Kipkoech Ng’etich from Nakuru City have declared interest in the top LSK seat in the March 17 elections.
Mr Nelson Havi, whose 18-month stint at the helm of LSK has been littered with drama and controversy, has announced that he will be seeking a political seat in the August 9 elections.
On Thursday, LSK secretariat announced the ouster of Mr Havi as its president and replaced him with Mt Kenya branch chairperson Linda Kiome as interim president. Mr Mathew Nyabena was named LSK vice-chairperson.
Mr Ombati, who said he was the most qualified person to succeed Mr Havi, promised to offer sober leadership at the LSK which has more than 17,000 members countrywide.
Sober leadership
"I want to assure lawyers across the country that if I am elected as the next president of LSK, I will offer sober leadership," said Mr Ombati.
He said his record speaks for itself, citing legal services he offered to LSK during the 2017 presidential petition.
Mr Ombati said that if elected, he will ensure lawyers practice in a conducive environment without any intimidation from the government or police.
Mr Theuri, who is also the chairperson of the LSK Nairobi branch, said he has a vision to transform the society and help it regain its lost glory.
He said that if elected, he will push for the inclusion of policies and laws that will make it mandatory to include lawyers in the formulation of legal policies in Kenya.
"I want lawyers to seat on the same negotiation table on matters related to our practice and this is one agenda I will push hard if I am elected as the next president of LSK," said Mr Theuri.
Nakuru City-based lawyer Bernhard Kipkoech Ng'etich has thrown his hat in the ring.
Strategic partnerships
"If elected, I will lobby for a predictable judicial calendar for training, workshops and seminars for courts and tribunals as well as entrenching devolution of an organised LSK branches and cascade an efficient and realigned secretariat in all the eight branches," said Mr Ng'etich who is a former chairperson of LSK Rift Valley branch.
Mr Ng’etich, who is also LSK Council member upcountry representative, said he will strive to develop standing orders for better engagement with the police, land registries and registrar of companies.
“I will create strategic partnerships with the Judiciary, Attorney-General, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and constitutional commissions and unite senior, middle and young lawyers and build a seamless and peaceful succession plan,” said Mr Ng’etich.
He promised to support young lawyers to attend international conferences and develop networks if he is elected.
