Nairobi
By Andrew Ombuni
– Havi is a former student of Musingu Boys High School
– He beat Laikipia Governor’s wife- Ms Mbeneka to clinch the much coveted seat
– Havi also beat Ms Chiggai, outgoing LSK President
– Havi was disqualified in 2017 from vying for the seat by LSK
The new President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Nelson Havi has pledged to unite all the lawyers under the association for posterity.
Mr Havi said his main mandate is to ensure LSK members work together for the betterment of the association as well as defending the independence of the judiciary.
The renowned city lawyer beat three top compatriots in the fiercely contested election to become the new Sheriff in town.
Mr Havi, an alma mater of Musingu Boys High School, wants to revamp that lost glory of the association that was being viewed as toothless by the members of the public and the lawyers themselves.
He promised to walk in the footsteps of former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Paul Muite when they were heading the lawyer’s body.
Havi will be replacing outgoing president Allen Gichuhi and serve a three-year term from 2020 to 2022 as per the LSK regulations.
Havi who is described as a radical lawyer among his fellow learned friends, beat his classmate and city lawyer Charles Kanjama, Maria Mbeneka who doubles up as the wife of Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi and outgoing LSK Vice President Harriete Chiggai.
A total of 10,764 lawyers who have valid practicing licenses were eligible to take part in the elections that was conducted by the by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In December 2017, Mr Havi was disqualified from vying for the presidency of the association since he had not attained 15 years of practice from his date of admission to the bar.
Ms Chiggai congratulated Mr Havi for the landslide victory through his facebook account.
“I am pleased to take
this opportunity to congratulate the President elect, Nelson Havi, for the
resounding victory. I trust that his hard work and his commitment to principle
will continue to contribute to the good of our Society. Now more than ever we
must support him in the course of duty,” wrote Chiggai.
She added: “Congratulations to Maria Mbeneka and Charles Kanjama for the fight
well fought and for expressing your desires for our Society. I thank you for
having shaped the great agenda we have had leading up to this vote,”.
Mr Kanjama through his twitter account conceded defeat saying he will work with the new LSK President.
“I congratulate my classmate Nelson Havi on running a bold and effective campaign that has captured the confidence of lawyers across the country. I congratulate him on a race well run and, as a democrat, am happy to accept the will of the voters,”. wrote Kanjama on his twitter account.
Also to congratulate Mr Havi is Senator Kipchumba Murkomen who is also a member of the lawyers’ umbrella.
“I congratulate Ndugu Nelson Havi on your election as President of the Law Society of of Kenya. The nation, the bar and entire legal fraternity expects you to provide leadership on matters affecting legal practice, administration of justice and rule of law,” Kipchumba Murkomen.
Ends
