Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata and former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo are among 146 advocates who have applied for the rank of Senior Counsel, the most prestigious title in Kenya’s legal profession.
The LSK published the list of applicants on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The applications will now be reviewed by the Committee on Senior Counsel, which recommends successful candidates to the President for conferment. Publication of the list does not mean that any applicant has received the rank; it merely identifies those who have applied.
Senior Counsel is conferred under Section 17 of the Advocates Act, which allows the President to award the rank to an advocate of “irreproachable professional conduct who has rendered exemplary service to the legal profession and public service.”
The process is governed by the Advocates (Senior Counsel Conferment and Privileges) Rules, 2011, under which the Committee on Senior Counsel receives, considers and evaluates applications before making its recommendations. Lawyers who hold the rank use the title SC and enjoy certain privileges in court, including precedence over other advocates.
This year’s list features a notable line-up of senior State officials. Kindiki is a former professor of international law at the University of Nairobi and Moi University and was part of President William Ruto’s legal team at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
He went on to serve as Senator for Tharaka-Nithi and Interior Cabinet Secretary before becoming Deputy President in November 2024. Kingi, who has been Speaker of the Senate since 2022, previously served two terms as Governor of Kilifi and was the MP for Magarini and an Assistant Minister. Kang’ata, a former Senator for Murang’a, was elected Governor in 2022.
Other public officials seeking the title include Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga, Solicitor-General Shadrack Mose and Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei. Faith Odhiambo, who previously served as LSK president and is known for her work in human rights and the rule of law, is also among the applicants.
The list also includes some of the country’s best-known legal veterans. Former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende, who presided over the 10th Parliament from 2008 to 2013, has applied, as have former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza and human rights defender and former MP Gitobu Imanyara.
Dr John Khaminwa, who has practised law for nearly five decades and is known for his work in human rights and constitutional litigation, is also seeking the rank after missing out in a previous round. Ekuru Aukot, a member of the Committee of Experts that drafted the 2010 Constitution and a presidential candidate in 2017, has also applied.
Several prominent Nairobi advocates are among the applicants, including Danstan Omari, Donald Kipkorir, Professor Ben Sihanya, Julie Soweto, Kamotho Waiganjo, Paul Nyamodi and Eric Gumbo. Other applicants include Robert Katina, Omwanza Ombati, Peter Wanyama, Mursat Somane, Harriette Chiggai, Ann Amadi and Jacinta Nyamosi.
The Committee on Senior Counsel will assess each applicant’s professional conduct and contribution to the legal profession and public service before forwarding its recommendations to the President, who makes the final decision.
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