A formal objection from Kenya's legal body just blocked six foreign nationals from joining the bar, exposing a messy clash between regional integration and domestic gatekeeping.
LSK draws the line on six applicants
LSK draws the line on six applicants
- The Law Society of Kenya objected to admitting five South Sudanese and one Chinese national as advocates.
- LSK President Faith Odhiambo sent the letter to Chief Justice Martha Koome on 11 February.
- Neither South Sudan nor China has reciprocal legal arrangements with Kenya.
- Commonwealth membership and existing court rulings form the eligibility backbone.
- Contested names appeared in Gazette Notice No. 19126, issued 10 December 2025.
- A second notice, No. 1154, dropped on 20 January 2026 from the Deputy Chief Registrar.
- The six applicants are Awai Adhieu, Torpuot Kueth Chuol Both, Ahol Okoo, Alier Geu, Ziwei Qi, and Shileha Qi.
- Prior High Court rulings struck down amendments that tried widening eligibility to Rwandan and Burundian lawyers.
- Those decisions reverted the law to its pre-2012 position over lack of public participation.
- The LSK cited both a 2019 case and a 2025 Council of Legal Education ruling.
- Two amendment bills from 2021 and 2023 either stalled or got invalidated by courts.
- A 2025 working committee report recommended extending eligibility to all EAC states with reciprocity.
- Another June 2025 report pushed for residency-based restrictions on foreign advocates.
- The LSK accused the Kenya School of Law of presenting candidates it considers ineligible.
