NIS boss Haji, Speaker Wetang’ula among 105 applicants for Senior Counsel Rank (LIST)
NIS boss Haji, Speaker Wetang’ula among 105 applicants for Senior Counsel Rank
National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General Noordin Haji and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula are among lawyers who have applied for the conferment of the rank of Senior Counsel.
According to a list published by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) on Thursday, October 9, a total of 105 lawyers have applied for the coveted title.
Among the applicants are former LSK Presidents Eric Theuri, Nelson Havi, Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba, and Isaac Okero.
Other distinguished contenders include Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Chairperson Ahmed Issack Hassan, Gor Mahia Chairman Ambrose Rachier, former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, and Safaricom Board Chairman Adil Khawaja.
Also on the list are Data Protection Commissioner Immaculate Kassait, President William Ruto’s lawyer Katwa Kigen, as well as renowned advocates Donald Kipkorir and Paul Nyamodi.
The Senior Counsel (SC) rank is a prestigious legal title awarded to advocates who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service and integrity in the legal profession.
It is comparable to the Queen’s Counsel (QC) in the United Kingdom and represents the highest level of professional recognition for advocates in the country.
The conferment of this rank is guided by the Advocates Act and the Advocates (Senior Counsel Conferment and Privileges) Rules.
These laws set out the qualifications, procedures, and privileges associated with the rank to ensure merit, integrity, and competence remain at the core of selection.
To qualify for the Senior Counsel rank, an advocate must have practiced for at least 15 years as a member of the Bar and demonstrated exceptional knowledge of the law.
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Candidates must also exhibit high moral standing, professional excellence, and a record of ethical conduct.
They should have handled substantive cases before superior courts and contributed to the development of Kenya’s legal system through mentorship, scholarship, or public service.
Any advocate found guilty of professional misconduct is automatically disqualified from consideration.
The process begins when eligible advocates apply through the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Applications are then reviewed by the Committee on Senior Counsel, a vetting body that includes senior members of the judiciary, LSK representatives, and other legal experts.
The committee evaluates candidates based on their competence, character, and contribution to the law before making recommendations to the Chief Justice, who forwards the final list to the President for conferment.
Once approved, the names are entered in the official Roll of Senior Counsel.
Those conferred with the rank enjoy several privileges, including precedence in court proceedings, except before certain constitutional offices like the Attorney-General or the Director of Public Prosecutions.
They are also entitled to wear distinctive attire, symbolizing their seniority and status, a tradition often referred to as ‘taking silk.’
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