LSK blames Judiciary as lawyers' boycott falters

[00:00:00]The Law Society of Kenya is now blaming the judiciary for interfering with the planned countrywide courts boycott by its members over alleged corruption among judicial officers including judges.

[00:00:12]A nationwide spot check by Citizen TV including Nairobi's Milimani, Kibera, [snorts] Nakuru, Kajiado, Kisii and Narok established that proceedings continued uninterrupted even as a section of LSK members kept attending court sessions.

[00:00:29]The lawyers body is now threatening to escalate its strike if its concerns are not addressed by Chief Justice Martha Koome. Here's Setholale.

[00:00:41]>> The Law Society of Kenya has reaffirmed that its nationwide boycott of court proceedings remain in force urging advocates across the country to stay away from the corridors of justice as pressure mounts for greater accountability within the judiciary.

[00:01:00]A spot check across the country established that court proceedings continued as scheduled on the first day of the boycott to protect it.

[00:01:10]While blaming the judiciary for allegedly interfering with the planned boycotts, the lawyers umbrella body LSK urged advocates to join hands in pushing for reforms in the judiciary.

[00:01:22]>> We are still receiving information from our members who are being forced to proceed with matters and some of whose have been taken out with prejudice.

[00:01:35]They have been either dismissed or asked to pay court allocation court adjournment fees and so on.

[00:01:47]>> At the Milimani Law Courts, senior lawyers led by Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama moved from one courtroom to another urging advocates to seek adjournments in solidarity with the nationwide lawyers boycott.

[00:02:01]>> And independence should never be used as a shield against accountability.

[00:02:06]>> As the elections are coming, we'll be looking unto the courts to have some level of sanity.

[00:02:11]>> We have witnessed as a country a gradual slide in the rule of law.

[00:02:19]>> LSK, together with senior counsel bar, who had scheduled to meet the Judicial Service Commission on July 31st to discuss concerns over what the legal fraternity terms as use of court orders by some judicial officers to shield themselves against accountability.

[00:02:37]>> We know there are so many of these petitions before the JSC that were dismissed without merit.

[00:02:42]>> We have had dialogue upon dialogue until finally the dialogue stopped.

[00:02:48]>> Until the judiciary is reformed and until the corrupt judge change their bad habit.

[00:02:58]>> Speaking outside the Supreme Court buildings, LSK President Charles Kanjama warned that the attorneys will explore other options in a bid to escalate the strike of alleged corruption, incompetence, and favoritism by a section of judges and other judicial officers while handling cases.

[00:03:26]>> It has gotten away with complaints from members of the public, from members of the bar on their conduct, and no action is being taken.

[00:03:34]>> Corruption, two, delay in administration of justice.

[00:03:38]>> The main aim to is to get accountability from the judiciary.

[00:03:42]>> Even as the Law Society of Kenya calls upon its members to intensify their opposition against the judiciary over alleged misconduct, the judiciary led by its head, the Chief Justice Martha Koome, remains adamant, insisting the courts will remain open.

[00:04:01]Set Ole Citizen TV at the Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi County.