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Message: [QUOTE="Queen, post: 87489, member: 27"] 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 [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] Gazette notices that triggered the fight [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] Court precedent backing the objection [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] Reform efforts stuck in limbo [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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