LSK Threatens to Occupy Supreme Court Over Ban on Ahmednasir Abdullahi
Kenya could be heading towards a significant legal standoff as the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) announced plans to boycott court proceedings in protest of the Supreme Court’s ban on prominent lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi and his associates.
Speaking during a press conference on Friday, January 24, LSK President Faith Odhiambo revealed the society’s intention to stage peaceful demonstrations at the Supreme Court if the controversial ban is not reversed.
“If our demands for the reversal of these orders are ignored, we will have no choice but to escalate our actions.
This will include mobilizing our members to stage peaceful protests and even occupy the Supreme Court as a sign of protest,” Odhiambo declared.
She further warned that legal practitioners across the country could be called upon to boycott court sessions as a unified expression of their disapproval.
The Supreme Court’s ban stems from a ruling issued in January 2024, where all judges on the bench recused themselves from handling any cases involving Ahmednasir’s law firm, Ahmednasir Abdullahi Advocates, or its representatives.
The conflict between Ahmednasir and Chief Justice Martha Koome has been brewing for over a year, with the Senior Counsel consistently raising concerns about the Judiciary’s conduct.
The ban was reinforced earlier this week when the Supreme Court upheld its earlier ruling, refusing to allow a lawyer from Ahmednasir’s firm to represent a client.
Chief Justice Koome, addressing the plea on Tuesday, January 21, firmly stated, “In January last year, the judges of this court unanimously recused themselves from hearing any matter linked to Ahmednasir’s firm, its employees, or anyone holding brief for the firm.
The reasons for this decision were clearly outlined at the time.”
This ruling has sparked outrage among LSK officials, who argue that the Supreme Court’s decision undermines the principles of justice and the rule of law.
“The Supreme Court’s actions amount to judicial overreach, abuse of authority, and gross incompetence,” Odhiambo stated during the press briefing.
She further added, “This situation provides legitimate grounds for the removal of judges involved in such decisions.
We are calling on the Judicial Service Commission to launch disciplinary proceedings against the judges in question to uphold the integrity of the Judiciary.”
The LSK also criticized the blanket ban on Ahmednasir’s firm and its associates, describing it as a violation of fundamental rights.
“Denying advocates and their clients access to justice infringes on the right to legal representation, compromises the independence of the legal profession, and sets a dangerous precedent,” Odhiambo emphasized.
Although the LSK has not specified when they intend to carry out these threats, they remain adamant that the Judiciary must reform.
The society highlighted the growing dissatisfaction among Kenyans regarding the Judiciary’s performance, urging immediate action to restore public trust.
The legal fraternity will be closely watching how this standoff between the LSK and the Supreme Court unfolds in the coming days, as the potential for disruption in Kenya’s justice system looms large.
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