The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has rejected the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to grant the President powers to confer the rank of Senior Counsel.
In a statement released on Friday, August 15, LSK President Faith Odhiambo noted that the proposal will undermine long-standing standards built to keep the process fair, transparent, and based on legal excellence.
Odhiambo noted that only advocates who meet the highest standard of distinction should be conferred the honor and not an automatic title tied to public office.
LSK rejects proposal to give President powers to confer Senior Counsel ranks. Photo: Courtesy.
She went on to emphasize that safeguarding the process of conferring the Senior Counsel rank protects not only the dignity of the rank and the integrity of the law profession.
Odhiambo further urged Tharaka Member of Parliament George Murugara to withdraw the proposed amendment.
The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to give the President the power to confer Senior Counsel status on an advocate who has served as Speaker or Deputy Speaker of either House of Parliament, Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal, Principal Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General, Solicitor-General and Director of Public Prosecutions.
The president may also confer the rank on advocates who have served as chairperson of a parliamentary committee on constitutional and legal affairs, President of the Council of the Law Society of Kenya, or on any individual who has rendered exemplary service to Kenya’s legal profession or public service.
The proposed bill also says a person shall not be eligible to be a Senior Counsel unless he or she is a duly enrolled advocate of the High Court of not less than fifteen years’ standing.
