Kenyan Bar celebrates 920 “exceptionally brilliant” new advocates joining its ranks

More than 900 newly admitted Kenyan lawyers were yesterday urged by Chief Justice Martha Koome to uphold the highest standards of professional, personal, and social ethics; to embrace collegiality between Bench and Bar; and to safeguard the dignity of the profession, in and out of the courtroom, including on social media.

“I congratulated them for joining a noble profession grounded in service, integrity, and commitment to justice,” said the Chief Justice, after she presided over the ceremony at the Supreme Court in Nairobi. “I encouraged them to serve the underserved, explore emerging areas of legal practice, and champion the rights of the vulnerable in the spirit of our transformative Constitution.”

The Chief Justice, who took office in early 2021, described the day as a triumph not just for the new lawyers but for Kenya’s justice sector, which continues to expand its pool of legal talent. Koome noted she has now overseen the admission of nearly 10,000 advocates, out of 27,000 advocates currently enrolled in the country.

“I congratulated them for joining a noble profession grounded in service, integrity, and commitment to justice,” said Chief Justice Koome. “The legal profession has space for every advocate who is ethical, innovative, and committed to justice.”

While in the leadup to yesterday’s ceremony some in the profession and media, including former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi, criticised the large number of new lawyers now being admitted and questioned whether the country has the work or need for so many lawyers, many others celebrated yesterday’s occasion, welcomed the new advocates, and noted the significant growth in Kenya’s population and economy, alongside emerging areas of business and law.

All creating a need for far more lawyers than served the country in decades past.

“These 920 exceptionally brilliant men and women are not just another cohort of law graduates who have passed the bar,” said Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya, and partner at Ombok & Owuor Advocates LLP. “They are fighters for justice, defenders of the Constitution and some of Kenya’s strongest soldiers in the struggle for liberation. They represent a generation that refuses to be silent in the face of injustice and chooses courage over comfort. Their entry into the profession renews our hope that the future of the Kenyan Bar will be guided by integrity, service and an unwavering commitment to the people.”

The Law Society of Kenya, said Odhiambo, welcomes the new advocates with open arms and wishes them well as they begin their practice. Alongside the new lawyers, many members of the Bar and Kenyan law firms warmly celebrated the elevation of their pupils yesterday, including Ahmednasir Abdullahi Advocates LLP, ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna, CMS Kenya | Daly Inamdar Advocates, DLA Piper Africa, Kenya (IKM Advocates), MMW Advocates LLP, and Ngeri, Omiti & Bush Advocates LLP.

The Chief Justice added that the steady rise in admissions reflects a growing demand for legal services, and the transformation of the profession.

Meanwhile, Law Society of East Africa President Ramadhan Abubakar urged the new advocates to explore their practice beyond geographical borders.

"From today, your words carry weight and your actions shape institutions. Your practice can no longer be confined by borders. You can now practice in all East African countries. The lawyer who sees the region shapes the future,”