Law society now ripe for second female president
By Mary Claudio
Since the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) appointed its first chairperson in 1949 —a position now known as president—only one woman has occupied that office: Raychelle Omamo.
This is a pointer the legal sector remains a male-dominated industry, with women playing second fiddle. Yet, we must appreciate that the growth of the number of women lawyers — normal as it may seem to us today — signals revolutionary change in a social order that for eons entrusted control over its rules to men.
But while women have made significant strides in their convocation as advocates, in practice, female lawyers are at a natural disadvantage, especially when you still haven’t made your name in the field.
And as members of the legal fraternity go to the polls to elect the new LSK president tomorrow, one woman, Maria Mbeneka, is eyeing the post. She is out to prove the profession has evolved and women are ripe for leadership.
Should Mbeneka’s bid succeed, it will demonstrate that Omamo’s election as the society’s first female president was not accidental. Women have what it takes. It will entrench what we all know that women are equal to their male counterparts in the profession.
It is worth noting that women outstrip men in terms of the number of candidates being admitted to the bar. Mbeneka’s candidature could, therefore, not be more timely.
Going by her record, she is what is needed to redeem and reclaim the society’s lost glory. Her manifesto is also in itself telling: one to make it all inclusive, member centric and progressive. It is on that premise that I have deep conviction that she should steer LSK to the next level.
Interestingly, like Omamo, Mbeneka has served as vice president of the East African Law Society (EALS). Omamo was the first female to ever hold the regional position from 2003 to 2004 while Mbeneka was in 2016 to become the second woman to hold the post.
Mbeneka’s election to the EALS further goes to show her leadership credentials are appreciated across the region since the society draws members from six countries—Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Zanzibar.
The main focus of the regional society is the professional development of its members as well as agitating for constitutionalism, democracy, rule of law, good governance and the protection and promotion of human rights.
Her candidature in the LSK elections, therefore, is a breath of fresh air. As a member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, her clarion call is for all members to stand tall, united and engage for the betterment and unification of LSK.
She has a wealth of experience which in her admission has motivated her to contest for the highest position in Kenya’s preeminent legal lobby, and she hopes to influence policy through the rule of law.
As part of her pitch, she advocates for one society, entrenching the rule of law, practicing certificates, empowerment and support of the branches, self-care policy, each one help one, legal aid programmes, an application to enable members access information and establish an e-library. On the issue of divisions at the society, she expresses need for young lawyers to learn from their seniors as well as for members to accommodate divergent opinions.
If elected, Mbeneka has promised to work towards the amendment of the law to allow the society to print membership certificates for its paid-up members, instead of the current rule that vests the task on the Judiciary’s registrar.
—The writer is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya
