Lawyer Faith Mony Odhiambo is the new president of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) after she won most of the votes cast by lawyers during the elections held on Thursday, February 29.
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Odhiambo, who is now the 51st president of the lawyer’s umbrella body, garnered a total of 3,113 votes beating the four other candidates who were also contesting for the seat. She will replace outgoing LSK president Eric Theuri whose two-year term in office ended in February.
She also becomes the second female to lead LSK after former defence cabinet secretary Raychelle Omamo held the same position between 2001 and 2003.
Other candidates in the race were lawyer Peter Wanyama who came second with about 2,165 votes, former LSK vice-president Carolyne Kamende with 888 votes, lawyer Bernard Ng’etich with 833 votes and former LSK council member Njoki Mboce who got 511 votes.
Both Wanyama and Mboce had conceded defeat to Odhiambo with Wanyama, blaming his loss on limited resources and propaganda linking him to the government.
He, however, added that while he lost on paper to Odhiambo, he had won at heart, promising to support the new LSK president in leading the society.
“I have run a modest campaign largely financed from my meagre legal fees. I have lost on paper to Faith Odhiambo, who I unreservedly congratulate, but I have won at heart,” Wanyama said.
Mboce on the other hand, thanked her supporters and pledged to support the incoming team at LSK led by Odhiambo.
“Tonight, the hand of democracy has blown through our prestigious LSK. However, the face of victory has evaded us. I thank each member of my team for the tireless effort, hours and the day of engagement, lobbying and campaigning,” Mboce said.
“To the incoming President and Council, I congratulate you and give you my support for the duration of your term as we strive to make LSK the bastion of justice for all Kenyans,” she added.
About 15,000 lawyers voted in the nationwide exercise that took place on Thursday, February 29, 2024, to elect new officials to steer society. The voting took place in at least 36 centres across the country.
Odhiambo had during the campaigns, promised to transform the society, saying that LSK needed a leader who would empower and drive its common purpose.
The lawyer added that she will plan to help sustain a robust and proactive defence of the rule of law by stamping LSK’s foothold as policy shapers.
“The choice is whether to move forward as a united society focused on its progress or retrogress into the chaotic past we have walked to move away from,” Odhiambo said.
“My agenda is based on three pillars; achieve a unified stability, inclusive progress of our practice and assert the voice of LSK as an indispensable voice for the rule of law,” she added.
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