Lawyer Willis Otieno has raised alarm over attempts to inject political influence into the leadership of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), describing such moves as a threat to constitutionalism.
In a statement posted on X, Otieno framed the issue as a choice between a “lapdog or a watchdog” at the helm of the society.
He emphasized that the LSK is not a social club or a political retirement home, but a constitutional sentinel tasked with defending the rule of law and safeguarding the administration of justice.
Otieno warned that a “captured Bar” poses a national security risk.
“History teaches us that authoritarian impulses do not begin with tanks in the streets; they begin with the silent capture of institutions meant to resist them,” he stated.
He argued that when both the judiciary and the Bar are compromised, citizens are left vulnerable before unchecked power.
The lawyer called on advocates to reject attempts to insert political surrogates into the society’s leadership, saying that such a move would compromise institutional independence.
He stressed that lawyers do not swear allegiance to political dynasties, litigate on instructions from party offices, or act as errand runners for political elites seeking protection through institutional control.
An LSK led by politically connected proxies, Otieno warned, would be predictable, timid, and negotiable. It would issue statements to appease sponsors, overlook constitutional violations by “friendly” regimes, and trade courage for political proximity.
“That is how watchdogs mutate into lapdogs; well-fed, well-housed, but constitutionally useless,” he said.
The statement comes ahead of ongoing debates around the upcoming LSK leadership elections, with calls from some quarters for the society to maintain independence and resist political co-option.
Otieno’s remarks underline concerns that the integrity of Kenya’s legal profession could be undermined if partisan interests infiltrate its top ranks.
Advocates and legal observers have been urged to ensure that the LSK continues to uphold its mandate without fear, favor, or political interference.