NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 22 – The Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) has thrown its weight behind the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in its escalating standoff with the Judiciary, affirming the Society’s right to hold the Judiciary accountable while urging all parties to resolve the dispute through dialogue and in accordance with the rule of law.

📻 Breaking It Down

The intervention comes as tensions between the Judiciary and the legal profession continue to deepen.

Earlier Wednesday, LSK President Charles Kanjama accused some judges and judicial officers of penalising advocates who complied with the Society’s targeted court boycott by dismissing cases, imposing adjournment fees and issuing other adverse orders.

He said the LSK was documenting the reported incidents and would pursue targeted action against the affected judicial officers.

📌 What You Need to Know

LSK accuses judges of penalising lawyers during court boycott, vows targeted action

The Kenya Judges Welfare Association (KJWA) has, however, urged the Society to end the boycott, arguing that it undermines the rule of law and unfairly prejudices litigants seeking access to justice.

The LSK maintains that the boycott is intended to spotlight concerns over judicial accountability after the High Court suspended Judicial Service Commission (JSC) disciplinary proceedings involving several judicial officers.

In a statement dated July 22, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association described the Law Society of Kenya as “a well-regarded and courageous Law Society” that has consistently championed the interests of its members and the rule of law.

The CLA noted that the LSK had raised concerns over alleged corruption, judicial misconduct, abuse of office, registry inefficiencies and delays in processing court documents and releasing court funds, issues it said continue to undermine the administration of justice.

It observed that while the LSK remains committed to constructive engagement with the Judiciary, it has insisted that judicial independence must be matched by accountability, integrity, transparency and responsiveness to legitimate concerns raised by advocates and court users.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya