NAIROBI, Kenya With just two days to go before the pivotal Law Society of Kenya (LSK) elections on February 19, 2026, the legal profession finds itself at a crossroads not only choosing new leadership, but grappling with wrenching issues of accountability, culture, and institutional autonomy.
Campaigns officially closed on February 17, capping weeks of intense nationwide lobbying by contenders for the presidency, vice presidency and council seats. The frontrunners Peter Wanyama, Charles Kanjama and Mwaura Kabata have each pitched divergent visions for the Society’s future.
A Leadership Contest Beyond Personality
Wanyama canvasses for member-centric reforms, focusing on economic pressures, professional branding and regulatory efficiency. Kanjama, a Senior Counsel, champions institutional integrity, ethics and professionalism, appealing to the senior bar that prioritises financial discipline and continuous development. Kabata the current vice-chair pledges continuity and modernisation, including digital transformation and enhancing public interest litigation.
This contest arrives as a generational rift widens within Kenya’s legal ranks: with over 24,000 members, many newly qualified advocates are shaping voter priorities through digital outreach on platforms like TikTok and X, making this one of the most socially engaged LSK campaigns to date.
Issues That Transcend Ballot Boxes
Beyond leadership labels, the campaign has been underscored by high-stakes debates on the Bar’s role in national governance and justice especially as Kenya approaches its next general elections. Critics argue the LSK’s capacity to defend constitutionalism and institutional independence is central to broader democratic resilience. Lawyer Willis Otieno warned that if the Bar is captured by political proxies, its ability to resist state overreach could be compromised framing the vote as a bulwark for independent legal advocacy.
Sexual Harassment Spotlight
The election has also been overshadowed by sexual harassment tensions within the profession. Former LSK president Nelson Havi publicly faulted Vice President and candidate Mwaura Kabata over alleged inaction in handling harassment complaints involving Advocate Patrick Wandare.
In response, Kabata severed ties with Wandare’s campaign involvement, insisting on zero tolerance for harassment even as the Society notes its hands are legally tied, with the Advocates Disciplinary Tribunal bearing statutory responsibility for such complaints. Earlier this month, the current LSK leadership announced new interventions to support sexual harassment victims, including counselling services and multi-agency cooperation, signalling internal acknowledgment of a deep-rooted professional culture challenge.
More Than Just a Bar Election
As members prepare to cast ballots on Thursday, observers say the outcome will shape not just the future of the legal fraternity, but also its capacity to uphold the rule of law and ethical practice.The winner will inherit more than titles they must reconcile competing demands from a youthful, tech-savvy membership, address cultural dysfunction within the profession, and affirm the LSK’s role as a guardian of justice and constitutional order at a defining moment in Kenya’s political calendar.
Campaigns officially closed on February 17, capping weeks of intense nationwide lobbying by contenders for the presidency, vice presidency and council seats. The frontrunners Peter Wanyama, Charles Kanjama and Mwaura Kabata have each pitched divergent visions for the Society’s future.
A Leadership Contest Beyond Personality
Wanyama canvasses for member-centric reforms, focusing on economic pressures, professional branding and regulatory efficiency. Kanjama, a Senior Counsel, champions institutional integrity, ethics and professionalism, appealing to the senior bar that prioritises financial discipline and continuous development. Kabata the current vice-chair pledges continuity and modernisation, including digital transformation and enhancing public interest litigation.
This contest arrives as a generational rift widens within Kenya’s legal ranks: with over 24,000 members, many newly qualified advocates are shaping voter priorities through digital outreach on platforms like TikTok and X, making this one of the most socially engaged LSK campaigns to date.
Issues That Transcend Ballot Boxes
Beyond leadership labels, the campaign has been underscored by high-stakes debates on the Bar’s role in national governance and justice especially as Kenya approaches its next general elections. Critics argue the LSK’s capacity to defend constitutionalism and institutional independence is central to broader democratic resilience. Lawyer Willis Otieno warned that if the Bar is captured by political proxies, its ability to resist state overreach could be compromised framing the vote as a bulwark for independent legal advocacy.
Sexual Harassment Spotlight
The election has also been overshadowed by sexual harassment tensions within the profession. Former LSK president Nelson Havi publicly faulted Vice President and candidate Mwaura Kabata over alleged inaction in handling harassment complaints involving Advocate Patrick Wandare.
In response, Kabata severed ties with Wandare’s campaign involvement, insisting on zero tolerance for harassment even as the Society notes its hands are legally tied, with the Advocates Disciplinary Tribunal bearing statutory responsibility for such complaints. Earlier this month, the current LSK leadership announced new interventions to support sexual harassment victims, including counselling services and multi-agency cooperation, signalling internal acknowledgment of a deep-rooted professional culture challenge.
More Than Just a Bar Election
As members prepare to cast ballots on Thursday, observers say the outcome will shape not just the future of the legal fraternity, but also its capacity to uphold the rule of law and ethical practice.The winner will inherit more than titles they must reconcile competing demands from a youthful, tech-savvy membership, address cultural dysfunction within the profession, and affirm the LSK’s role as a guardian of justice and constitutional order at a defining moment in Kenya’s political calendar.
