Law Society of Kenya launches Efficiency and Ethics Taskforce to rebuild faith in the justice system

The establishment of an Efficiency and Ethics Taskforce is a defining moment, and a public statement that the Law Society of Kenya is committed to accountability, justice, and continuous institutional renewal, said Florence Muturi, CEO of the Society, at a breakfast gathering of legal dignitaries in Nairobi this morning.

“The decision to establish this taskforce was driven by a lot of credible reports from our members and the general public pointing to systematic inefficiencies and persistent corruption within our courts and land registries,” continued Muturi, before the 17 members of the new taskforce were introduced. “As the Society, we listened and acted. I want to reaffirm this initiative is not merely administrative, it is strategic.”

The new Efficiency and Ethics Taskforce will be chaired by John Ohaga, SC, a globally renowned Kenyan litigator and Senior Partner at TripleOKLaw LLP. Its members span backgrounds and generations, from the likes of Wilfred Nderitu SC, to advocates in the earlier years of their careers such as Cherono Gloria Tongoi.

The taskforce has been established under the Society’s constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law and protect public interest. It demonstrates the Society is not a passive observer of dysfunction, but active in making reforms, and has been carefully constituted to bring together expertise, integrity, and great representation. 

“We appreciate that this work can not be done in isolation by the taskforce alone,” said Mutari. “That is why we are all here. We need your voices, your insights, your vigilance. I welcome you to be part of it, and thank the Council of the Law Society for their leadership, and the members of the taskforce for accepting this national duty.”

Following the unveiling of the taskforce and its members, Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo delivered a keynote address, noting that this launch was not merely that of yet another committee, but “a clarion call to accountability, introspection, and a collective reform in the administration of justice”. 

“I know the word taskforce doesn’t usually get everyone’s heart racing,” said Odhaimbo. “It’s not as exciting as a plot twist in a criminal trial, or the suspense of waiting for a court file to be found. But this particular taskforce is different. This one is ours, born out of our shared frustrations, forged in hope, and focused on results.”

Justice delayed is justice denied, and justice compromised by unethical conduct is justice corrupted, said Odhiambo. She posed the question some may ask of why this taskforce, and why now, then answered: “Because something is not right, and we all know it … You don’t need to be a Supreme Court Justice or a Senior Counsel to see that efficiency and ethics in our justice system has been under siege.”

The taskforce will work hand-in-hand with the public to expose and understand pain points within the Kenya justice system. It is about co-creating solutions with Kenyans. 

This morning’s launch in Nairobi is a landmark event that is set to mark the beginning of a transformative journey towards enhancing justice delivery, promoting legal compliance, eradicating corruption in courts and registries, and building public trust in legal and land governance institutions in Kenya.