Blow to Kalonzo, Karua After Their Nomination to Senior Counsel Club is Revoked

The nomination of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua for conferment of the rank of Senior Counsel has been revoked.

The two were among 24 long-serving attorneys selected by the Committee on Senior Counsel in August 2019 to join the exclusive club of senior lawyers in the country.

Their names were forwarded to Chief Justice David Maraga who would, in turn, send them to President Kenyatta for gazettement but this did not happen.

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi in a notice to lawyers on Wednesday, May 13th, said the list was set aside on May 11th following court cases filed to challenge the nominations of the 24 on various grounds.

Havi said an LSK Council meeting dated May 11th resolved to have the nominations annulled and the 24 nominees have been advised to apply afresh.

Other lawyers in the list included Philip Murgor, Fred Ngatia, Dorcas Oduor (Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions), Judy Thongori, Kioko Kilikumi, Patricia Nyaundi, John Ohaga, Rautta Athiambo, Wilfred Nderitu, Prof Albert Mumma, Pravin Bowry, and John Chigiti.

The 24 had been picked from a pool of 90 applicants and were set to join the senior counsel club whose membership includes, among others, lawyers James Orengo, Prof. Tom Ojienda, Paul Muite, Prof. Githu Muigai, and Dr. Willy Mutunga.

The shortlisting was done by the Senior Counsel Committee whose members include Justice Mohamed Ibrahim, Justice Martha Koome, Justice Jacqueline Kamau, Omesh Kapila, and Patricia Kameri-Mbote.

Other members of the committee are Lucy Kambuni, Lillian Renee-Omondi, Nicholus Bichanga, former LSK president Allen Gichuhi, and Attorney-General Paul Kihara.