When the head of the Law Society of Kenya stands accused of bending to executive influence, it is not just a personal dispute — it is a question of whether the country’s legal watchdog still has the backbone to defend Kenyans.
The Facts
On September 5, advocate Levi Munyeri issued a blistering statement and letter to LSK President Faith Odhiambo, demanding she step down after accepting an appointment from President William Ruto. Odhiambo was named co-chair of a new Panel of Experts tasked with compensating victims of protests, serving under Professor Makau Mutua.
Munyeri argues the panel is unconstitutional, since Article 59 of the Constitution already mandates the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights to handle complaints and redress. He cites ongoing High Court petitions — including one challenging the legality of the protest victims’ panel itself — as proof that the role Odhiambo accepted is tainted.
He insists that Odhiambo’s dual role as LSK President and presidential appointee creates a fatal conflict of interest, undermining the Society’s independence and statutory duty under Section 4 of the LSK Act.
For ordinary Kenyans beaten in the streets during protests, the real issue is trust. Can the same government accused of violence appoint its own panel to decide compensation — and expect victims to believe justice will be done? And can the LSK President, who should be standing firmly on the side of citizens, work hand-in-hand with the very executive she is supposed to hold accountable?
If the LSK bends to the State, who will defend the constitutional rights of the wananchi when police brutality strikes again?
The Law
The Constitution is clear: Article 59 gives KNCHR authority to handle human rights abuses. Article 10 demands transparency, accountability, and rule of law. Accepting parallel executive panels not only duplicates constitutional functions but erodes the independence of institutions meant to protect Kenyans.
Faith Odhiambo calls her choice “bold but unpopular.” For many Kenyans, it looks less like boldness and more like betrayal. If the LSK cannot stay independent of State House politics, then the legal profession risks losing the moral authority that once made it the fearless defender of justice.
