A BRAVE NEW BAR
By Nelson Havi
The president of the Law Society of Kenya, Members of the Law society council, senior counsels present, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, It is a pleasure to speak to you at this critical moment in the life of our country and society.
Critical because we are operating in an extraordinary environment characterized by deep political and ethnic divisions, political uncertainty, affront on the rule of law and a raging debate on nationhood and constitutionalism.
Dear colleagues, the times we live in demand that the law society must rise above the pedestal and offer leadership and shepherd the country to safer waters. This can only be done if we offer the society a leadership that is responsive, courageous and ready to depart from the comfort zone.
Our nation is just emerging from another deeply divisive election that has left more harm than hitherto, more problems than solutions and more lingering questions about our fidelity as a country to the rule of law, constitutionalism, and the character of our democratic journey as far as the quest for free and fair elections is concerned.
Ladies and gentlemen, the easiest thing to do would be to operate as though everything is running well and not confront these questions of the day. Many people would prefer not to touch these issues because it is the safest thing to do. But that is not who we are as a society. That is not what we are made of as a profession. The rigor of our profession demands, courage, tenacity and mental aptitude to confront the questions of the day and help build a more cohesive and prosperous nation.
It must be remembered that the law society operates within the contextual spectrum of the general Kenyan state. If our motherland is not at ease, so must be the law society. If offered an opportunity as your president, I will confront these challenges with practical solutions for the good of the nation. I will elevate our society to the center stage of national development.
Ladies and gentlemen, the coming election is more than just a contest for positions. The Kenyan legal profession, by this election, will signify its intention to turn a new leaf. It will choose to re-invent itself. It will choose to win back the confidence of the Kenyan people. Throughout the campaigns in the next few months, as we travel across the length and breadth of this country it will become apparent that the majority of our colleagues are eager and determined to build a new legal profession. They want a legal profession that is respected and that enjoys the confidence of the Kenyan people.
Our campaign platform will be predicated on the mantra: A Brave New Bar and A Clean Judiciary, a judiciary that will deliver consistent and predictable outcomes; an executive that upholds the rule of law and a legislature that espouses tenets of constitutionalism.
It is very clear to us that, for the legal profession in Kenya, it can no longer be business as usual. Lawyers want to be respected. They want a country that works and that works for everyone. Lawyers want to be prosperous; therefore they want a country that is ready for business.
Majority of our members are beginning to appreciate that there cannot be rich lawyers in a poor country. They realize that their prosperity is somehow linked to the prosperity of the country. It is clear to our colleagues, that to have all these, the legal profession must play its part. There appears an appreciation that to regain the confidence of the Kenyan people, the legal profession needs to go back to its core values of ethics, courage, integrity and professionalism. This election, it appears to me, signifies the clear resolve by our members to turn a new leaf and to begin to build a brave new bar.
Undoubtedly, the task ahead is arduous but I am confident that with your continuing support and the help of Almighty God, we will succeed. Let me therefore reaffirm my commitment to work assiduously to pursue our programs and implement our campaign promises once elected in line with the LSK Act.
The Law Society is without doubt the foremost professional body in Kenya. The entire nation looks up to the Law Society for leadership and guidance in all matters of national importance and interest. We will pursue our mandate with only one sole objective: promoting the welfare and development of our members and the pursuit of the overall national interest of our country.
In pursuit of our campaign slogan; “a Brave New Bar” our vision will be anchored broadly along four areas: Reform of the standing and operation of the legal profession, enhanced representation of our members’ interests, the reform or reengineering of the LSK as an organization and finally the greater and more active pursuit of the public interest.
Our country is today at cross roads! With deepening economic crises fueled by unprecedented corruption, widening inequalities, increasing ethnicity and tribalism, threats of secession, and other social ills, it is clear that we face daunting challenges. These challenges belie our potential as a country richly endowed with human and natural resources. But do we have to wait until the country sinks deeper before we play our role as a society?
Perhaps no other profession has the potential to really impact on national development and transformation as the Legal Profession. Our skills in a variety of fields of legal knowledge place us uniquely in a position to understand and impact positively in various spheres of national development and guaranty the security of our citizens and the prosperity of our country.
Historically, lawyers in various capacities and the legal profession in general have played pivotal role in crucial phases of our national development. We played key role in the fight for multi-partism and the quest for a new constitutional dispensation. The question we must ask ourselves now is what is the challenge of modern day Kenya that espouses the right to development, peace and equality? How can we assist as lawyers in meeting this challenge? What can lawyers and the legal professions do to usher in this era? Positioning LSK and the Kenyan Legal Profession to play this role of ushering in a new era of social and economic transformation and providing the legal support or structure for this transformation of our country is what the mantra “A Brave New Bar” is all about.
In other words, to enable the legal profession play its key role in the next phase of our National Development, the LSK must reinvent itself. The legal profession must retool itself. It must reestablish its core values whilst at the same time realigning itself with new global trends, equipping members with new knowledge and new skills needed to operate in an increasingly integrated yet competitive world.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to conclude by quoting the words of the legendary US Congressman Patrick Henry in his riveting speech to the Constitutional Congress in Richmond Virginia titled “ Liberty or Death” where he postulated thus,
“It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, “Peace! Peace!” — but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!
The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!
Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”
God Bless Law Society of Kenya
God Bless Kenya.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This web site certainly has all the information I needed about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Hello there! This article couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I am going to forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for some other informative site. The place else could I am getting that kind of information written in such a perfect method? I’ve a project that I’m just now running on, and I have been on the look out for such info.
Aw, this was a really nice post. In thought I want to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and certainly not seem to get something done.
Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your site in internet explorer, would check this… IE still is the market leader and a large portion of people will miss your magnificent writing due to this problem.
I do not even understand how I stopped up here, however I believed this post used to be great. I do not realize who you’re but definitely you’re going to a well-known blogger in the event you are not already 😉 Cheers!
magnificent points altogether, you simply gained a brand new reader. What would you suggest in regards to your post that you made a few days ago? Any positive?
A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you ought to publish more on this topic, it might not be a taboo matter but typically people do not speak about such topics. To the next! Best wishes!!|
Right now it seems like WordPress is the top blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
I am delighted that I found this site, precisely the right info that I was searching for! .
I am commenting to make you be aware of what a exceptional experience my cousin’s child went through visiting your web site. She came to find many details, including how it is like to have an incredible giving heart to make the rest clearly thoroughly grasp selected multifaceted issues. You really did more than visitors’ expectations. Many thanks for offering the insightful, trusted, informative and also fun tips about this topic to Emily.
Fantastic post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Appreciate it!
Create jaw dropping video animations with Viddyoze. Viddyoze review and 30 discount.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site. I am hoping the same high-grade web site post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own web site now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a great example of it.
There is noticeably a lot of money to understand this. I assume you’ve made certain nice points in features also.
I got good info from your blog
Great website. Lots of useful info here. I am sending it to some pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thank you for your effort!
That is the best blog for anyone who needs to find out about this topic. You realize so much its virtually arduous to argue with you (not that I actually would need…HaHa). You undoubtedly put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, just great!
I’d need to check with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a put up that will make folks think. Also, thanks for allowing me to remark!
Great website! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am bookmarking your feeds also.
I’m not sure exactly why but this blog is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
Only a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding pattern.
Nice blog here! Also your website quite a bit up fast! What host are you the usage of? Can I get your affiliate link on your host? I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
I am continually searching online for articles that can assist me. Thank you!
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your articles. Keep up the great work! You know, many people are looking around for this information, you can aid them greatly.
Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is actually annoying. A good website with interesting content, that’s what I need. Thanks for keeping this website, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.
Hi, i could not resist commenting. Your blog post is very well written. I would suggest you to write more articles like this. if you are looking fot the best pulse oximeter for home use that is pretty cheap with all features check out my website.
very easy to understand explanation. fits me perfectly. from now on I will be your fan
Thank you, I have recently been looking for information approximately this subject for a long time and yours is the best I’ve found out till now. But, what about the bottom line? Are you certain concerning the source?
I need to get over my akwardness in this subject
i use lamp shades with CFL ubls instead of incandescent lamps, they are much cooler and uses less electricity“
I’d have to check with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I enjoy studying a put up that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for allowing me to comment!
I’ve learn a few excellent stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot effort you set to create one of these magnificent informative site.
My brother suggested I might like this web site. He was totally right. This put up actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how a lot time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
Enjoyed studying this, very good stuff, thanks. “Love begets love, love knows no rules, this is the same for all.” by Virgil.
Quality articles, I am waiting for your next article. keep working
As a Newbie, I am permanently searching online for articles that can benefit me. Thank you
You really make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I find this topic to be really one thing that I think I would by no means understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely huge for me. I am taking a look forward in your next submit, I will attempt to get the cling of it!|
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website thus i came to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things to improve my web site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!|
Thanks again for the post.Really looking forward to read more. Fantastic.
It’s in reality a nice and helpful piece of info. I’m glad that you simply shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
Hey! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!
I’ve been surfing on-line greater than three hours lately, yet I never found any fascinating article like yours. It is lovely worth sufficient for me. In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you did, the internet might be much more helpful than ever before.
Thanks for any other informative site. The place else may just I get that type of information written in such an ideal method? I have a undertaking that I am just now running on, and I’ve been at the glance out for such info.
Hello there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
Some genuinely fantastic information, Sword lily I detected this. “If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” by Ignacio Estrada.
Sign the petition and support religious freedom. Thank you – Shincheonji.
Sign the petition and support religious freedom. Thank you – Shincheonji.
Sign the petition and support religious freedom. Thank you – Shincheonji.
Sign the petition and support religious freedom. Thank you – Shincheonji.
I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
Perfectly indited subject matter, Really enjoyed studying.
I am very interested when reading your article. Oh yes, I also made an article, please visit.
I just have to say that this article is extremely decent and exceptionally useful. Yes, I totally agree with this article.
It’s great to know a lot about your site’s blog. Good article. I hope that the guide on your blog will be useful to me.
Hello dear, visit this site regularly if
then you will have a really picky experience.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your blog. You have some really good articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an email if interested. Cheers!