NAIROBI, Kenya, July 21 – The Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association (KMJA) has urged the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to reconsider its planned nationwide court boycott, warning that withdrawing legal services would ultimately punish litigants rather than the Judiciary.

📻 Breaking It Down

The appeal comes a day after the Judiciary rejected the planned boycott, insisting that all courts will remain open as scheduled on Wednesday and urging advocates to pursue their grievances through dialogue and established constitutional mechanisms instead of disrupting court proceedings.

Judiciary rejects LSK boycott, says all courts will sit as scheduled on Wednesday

In a statement issued Tuesday, KMJA President Justice Peter Mulwa acknowledged concerns raised by advocates over court delays, registry inefficiencies, e-filing challenges and judicial accountability, but argued that a boycott would undermine access to justice instead of resolving the underlying problems.

📌 What You Need to Know

“The concerns raised by the Law Society of Kenya are serious and deserve attention,” Mulwa said. “However, a withdrawal from court proceedings does not fall on the institution alone; its immediate and heaviest cost is borne by litigants.”

In its call for a one-day nationwide boycott, LSK asked advocates to stay away from court hearings and applications in protest over what it describes as persistent failures in the administration of justice, including delays in the hearing and determination of cases, registry inefficiencies and concerns over judicial accountability.

While lawyers will continue filing documents and attending urgent mentions solely to obtain fresh hearing dates or extend interim orders, the Society has also announced an indefinite targeted boycott of specific judges and judicial officers.

The targeted action affects judicial officers, including some Supreme Court judges.

KMJA however expressed concern over the move noting the targeted judges had obtained court orders restraining the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) or the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) from proceeding with misconduct complaints against them.

LSK advised advocates appearing before the affected courts to seek adjournments, transfers or recusals.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya