City Lawyer Peter Wanyama has hit the road in a race to succeed Eric Theuri as the next Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President in the upcoming poll slated for next Month.
While speaking at Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, January 11, 2024, Wanyama, who is vying to be the next president of the lawyers' lobby group, believes that the previous leadership took the wrong approach in advocating for the employment of thousands of unemployed lawyers in the country and the distribution of over Ksh1 billion collected every year.
"I will shock you with the information that there are many unemployed lawyers out there. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) does not have statistics on the employed lawyers. If we do not have leadership that engages in a structural perspective with the executive to push for the penetration of areas to employ its members, we have a problem," Wanyama, who has joined four other candidates in the race for the top leadership of LSK stated.
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Once elected as president, he stated that he would ensure the implementation of structural measures to deepen the legal market, thereby securing employment for the thousands of junior lawyers who are currently unemployed.
"I will also work on the issue of decentralization to encourage legal services to be based at the county level for legal practitioners. Members of LSK should know that I will work closely with business owners and counties to open up the legal market for them. We want lawyers to work in counties like Samburu, Mandera, Garissa, and Baringo," the lawyer stated.
Wanyama, who boasts 16 years of experience in legal practice, declares that he is in the race to sustain the stability of society.
"I, Peter Wanyama, have been in this sector for more than 16 years and understand the challenges the LSK faces. I am bringing various strategic ideas to revolutionize the LSK. We aspire to create an LSK that is respected by the Executive, Parliament, and whose voice is listened to by every stakeholder in the country," Wanyama stated ahead of submitting his nomination papers today at 2.00 pm.
The lawyer added that under his leadership, he will change the way governance is handled in the country.
"I will be sending a message to President William Ruto, that when retired Uhuru Kenyatta gave you the sword to run this country, it was symbolic. The sword given to President Ruto was to protect the rule of law, to be the custodian of the sovereignty of Kenyans, and to ensure that as the Commander in Chief, you do what it takes to uplift the concerns which Kenyans have raised," Wanyama said.
According to Wanyama, the current government regime (Kenya Kwanza administration) is a huge letdown to Kenyans, as it has embarked on overtaxing its citizens and enacting unconstitutional laws.
"As we speak, we are standing at a moment in history where the majority of Kenyans are truly suffering, unable to afford basic commodities due to the high cost of living. We face a significant problem as the majority of Kenyans are in distress, while only a few, such as MPs, governors, and members of the Executive, are enjoying prosperity. In this challenging environment, if elected, LSK will stand for the people," the lawyer emphasized.
Wanyama, the Managing Partner of Manyonge Wanyama & Associates (MWA Advocates), asserted that the role of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is to remind the President to adhere to the rule of law.
"The LSK under my watch will ensure that you(President Ruto live up to the oath of office which you took to ensure that Kenyans do not suffer. Kenyans elected you do not want to suffer," he said.
Wanyama also criticized President William Ruto for his ongoing attacks on the Judiciary over its decision to halt his projects, including the housing levy. He expressed disappointment that Ruto was resorting to general criticism instead of presenting evidence of corruption within the Judiciary.
He urged the Head of State to refrain from undermining the Judiciary, and if he has any issues with the institution, to raise them through the appropriate channels, including the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
"LSK will ensure that the rule of law and the judiciary are respected. I want to tell the President that if he has any issues with the judiciary, he should raise them through the proper channels. Undermining the judiciary from his office as the President undermines the rule of law, and these are among the issues we will stand against," Wanyama said.
The lawyer has urged President Ruto to follow the rule of law if he wants to implement his Kenya Kwanza manifesto.
"My message to President Ruto is to follow the rule of law if he wants to implement his projects. We know he will push his proposals for affordable housing and other initiatives under his manifesto. The problem is that these proposals are not well-received by Kenyans. We urge the President, Parliament, and the two speakers of Parliament to avoid pushing laws that undermine the concerns of Kenyans. Laws that lead to increased taxation need to be reconsidered, and they should find a way of increasing revenue without unfairly burdening Kenyans," Wanyama said.
According to the lawyer, if you are an employee with a payslip, the government is implementing various legislations to take more than 50 per cent of your income.
"What remains for us employees if Parliament continues to enact these unconstitutional laws?" Wanyama posed.
In such circumstances, he stated that under his leadership, he would be able to ensure that LSK takes on the Executive regarding the issue of bad laws.
"On this l am sending a message to the two speakers of Parliament and the parliamentarians to work for the concerns and interest rate of Kenyans by not passing laws that undermine the sovereignty of Kenyans," Wanyama said.
He warned the Executive and MPs that if they do not adhere to the rule of law under his leadership, the LSK will lodge litigation, which will be led by him as the LSK President. This is to ensure that any laws that challenge the concerns and aspirations of Kenyans or bring burdensome issues to Kenyans are challenged in court.
Wanyama's manifesto
Wanyama further urged lawyers to reelect him, stating that he will address the massive corruption in the landscape, which has been a source of contention in the recent past with LSK and PS Nixon Korir.
"Under my tenure, I will not allow a PS to sabotage the reforms of lawyers in the country that were laid down previously. As we speak, 40% of conveyance and land business is done by brokers. Lawyers are facing a challenge, and Kenyans are suffering at the hands of brokers who take money from members of the public unsuspectingly," Wanyama said.
"You saw what happened in Mavoko, where brokers took over the sector, and the Ministry of Lands is not doing anything to protect the victims. Under my tenure, we want to send a message that we are going to engage robustly with the Ministry of Land CS and the PS to deal with the fraudulent schemes in the sector. I want to tell the Land CS and PS that LSK will not just come for coffee with you but to make reforms that will benefit Kenyans," he went on.
Wanyama has promised lawyers that under his leadership he will support LSK branches across the country.
"As we speak LSK collects more than Ksh1 billion every year. However, some of this money is lost in Nairobi as the money is not centralized. If you go to Chuka Charter they do not receive a single shilling from LSK from the billions we collect," he said.
"When you go to Mombasa which is one of the old charters in LSK, they do not have an office. Branch support is going to be very core in our campaign. Will ensure that the Ksh1 billion that LSK collects annually is used for the welfare of members and must be sent to the branch level," he added.
The lawyer further stated that he would put an end to malpractice and bad governance in the LSK.
His candidature has since been backed by various lawyers, including the popular city lawyer Donald Kipkorir, who said that if Wanyama is elected, he will bring fresh ideas and much-needed reforms to Kenya’s premier bar association, with a membership of all practising advocates, currently numbering over twenty thousand.
"In the past LSK Presidential Elections, I publicly supported the sequential candidatures of Ahmednasir, Ojienda, Mutua, Gichuhi, Havi & Theuri, and they all won. At least, it is a public record that is res ipsa... This year, I publicly endorse the candidature of my friend & lawyer, Peter Wanyama, to be our next LSK President. Peter paid me a courtesy call & gifted me the Law Digest works of George Kashindi. Peter has the presence of mind, intellectual mind, cognitive intelligence & chutzpah to lead Kenya’s biggest & most influential professional society. LSK needs such a leader as it navigates our exciting & evolving times." Kipkorir posted on his Twitter account.
Others who have endorsed him for the top seat include lawyers Dunstan Omari and Duncan Okatch.
Wanyama is committed to continuing his initiative of arguing important public interest cases at the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, in addition to supporting LSK branches and chapters.
In the upcoming election, Wanyama is expected to face four other candidates, namely former Vice President Carolyne Kamende, current Vice President Faith Odhiambo, Harriet Mboche, Peter Wanyama, and Bernard Ngetich.
The five will be seeking to replace Erick Theuri whose term comes to an end in March 2024.
Theuri became the 50th president of LSK when he took over from Nelson Havi in March 2022.
