For a while now there has been disquiet within the Law Society of Kenya. The once reputable society has been marred with claims of poor leadership, with its President Nelson Havi at the center of the storm.
This has led to a split in the society, with one faction being pro-Havi, and the other seemingly against his leadership.
LSK Woes
Last year, Havi pushed for the removal of LSK CEO Mercy Wambua. However, this didn’t sail through as 9 members of the LSK council voted against her removal.
This was later followed by an impeachment motion filed against Havi last month on grounds of gross misconduct. He claimed that it was filed due to his call to have an audit done on the LSK finances.
Early this year, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) slapped the LSK with a tax bill of Ksh. 186 Million. The taxman accused LSK of failing to remit taxes in the previous years.
Chaos at LSK Meeting
On Monday, 18th January, LSK convened a Special General Meeting (SGM). The meeting was to discuss the appointment of auditors to probe LSK’s books. Besides auditing, the special sitting also aimed to discuss the impeachment motion against Havi. Other important agendas were to discuss the proposed suspension of some council members, and the appointment of advocates in case of internal disputes.
Then all hell broke loose.
The meeting was convened to settle the differences between the members. But from what we can see, the two factions led by Mr. Havi and Ms. Wambua, are still yet to find a common ground. This is something that Mr. Havi himself acknowledges and admits that it will be hard to achieve.
Utilitarian Decisions by Havi
During the meeting, LSK members suspended the council. Surprisingly, Havi went ahead and in dictatorial fashion, dismissed the impeachment motion against him. He also hand-picked an auditing firm, a move that didn’t go well with the members.
The meeting was also physically attended by only 300 members, with over 3000 members attending online via Zoom. Those attending online, however, did not have a means to participate in voting and this also contributed to the members’ disgruntlement.
Havi was accused of high-handedness by also denying renowned lawyers PLO Lumumba and Linda Obonyo a chance to speak. Other lawyers that had joined the meeting online via zoom, but were against Havi’s moves, had their microphones muted.
Those who attended the meeting physically didn’t have it easy either. Mr Omwansa called for a vote to be done over a poll and was accused of seeking to cause sabotage.
Another vocal member was ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, who made some remarks that seemed to threaten Havi’s life. Havi has since announced that he will be filing a complaint about the same.
I will be submitting a formal complaint to the @IG_NPS, @NPSOfficial_KE and @DCI_Kenya on the offense threat to murder made against me yesterday by @TheODMparty Secretary General Edwin Sifuna. Should my life be endangered, you know the culprit and his principals. ^POLSK pic.twitter.com/nb8Shuzkrd
— Nelson Havi (@NelsonHavi) January 19, 2021
Council member Ms. Roseline Odede also resigned, citing a hostile working environment and urging other council members to resign.
It’s interesting to see learned fellows almost exchanging blows. Seems that besides legal defence, our lawyers are also good at self-defense, lol!
Kenyans online, including lawyers, don’t seem to take a liking to Havi…
LSK President @NelsonHavi is lying on Live TV @citizentvkenya . He denied nearly 3,000 of us attending the LSK SGM virtually, an opportunity to vote by NOT ensuring a Poll was created, to enable us vote. Omwami everything that happened jana was both a shame and, a sham. Very sad!
— SILAS CHEPKERES JAKAKIMBA (@silasjakakimba) January 19, 2021
Notice how Edwin Sifuna is silent when POLSK is talking but when Sifuna takes to speak POLSK heckles.
POLSK is a heckler 🤣🤣🤣 Chief Heckler.
— Phannie A. Kwegah 🇰🇪 (@MissKwegah1) January 19, 2021
So @NelsonHavi was spoiling for a fight with OkoaLsk and he got it! He can never match the intelligent brains of OkoaLsk ably represented by @edwinsifuna. Havi needs 200 goons to support his illegalities. OkoaLsk only needs one intelligent brain to deconstruct Havi. It's a wrap!
— Jackie Manani, OGW (@JackieManani) January 19, 2021
Nelson Havi thinks he is President Harry S. Truman.
— Mwalimu Dida Kipkoech Kinuthia (@mwalimu_dida) January 20, 2021
… while some support him.
The two gentlemen @edwinsifuna and @NelsonHavi have had a good venture at articulating their views on various questions. Sifuna is stuck at yesterday, no wonder his party/candidate still believe they’ve won elections since 1997, MOVE ON!
— Oliver Kipchumba Karori (@karorikipchumba) January 19, 2021
https://twitter.com/Sir_Musumba/status/1351623531910590464
Do you think the LSK members shall reach an agreement? Let us know in the comments section and keep it C.O.K for more updates on this story.
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