City lawyer Njeru wa Muthoni has offered a blunt assessment of the politics and financial stakes behind the upcoming Law Society of Kenya (LSK) elections, questioning why candidates invest millions of shillings to vie for positions that officially carry no salary.
Despite this, he observed that aspirants routinely spend at least Sh3 million on campaigns, with some taking loans, organising fundraisers, and exhausting personal savings to finance nationwide tours and high-end events.
According to the lawyer, the scale of spending raises fundamental questions about the real incentives behind the contests.
He argued that the elections attract intense interest not only from lawyers but also from external actors keen on influencing the direction of the influential professional body.
Njeru claimed that government actors, civil society organisations, international non-governmental organisations, corporates, politicians and senior advocates closely monitor and, in some cases, fund LSK campaigns.
He suggested that these groups view the LSK council as a strategic centre of power, given its role in shaping legal discourse, defending the rule of law and influencing public policy debates.
He further argued that some lawyers emerge from their time in LSK leadership with significantly enhanced profiles, networks and wealth, even if their formal terms end quietly.
The city lawyer likened the LSK elections to a “fancy card trick,” arguing that while the campaigns appear costly and competitive, the real financial and professional rewards are hidden from public view.
His comments come at a time when the LSK prepares for another tightly contested election cycle, often marked by sharp debates over integrity, independence and the society’s role in national affairs.