Lockdown hands Havi 60 more days in suspension
Suspension of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has been extended for another 60 days after the government imposed a partial lockdown in five counties.
The lockdown precipitated the postponement of the society’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) that had been slated for last Saturday to decide Havi’s fate.
Delegates had been scheduled to listen to Havi’s side of the story before deciding whether to sack or allow him finish his term.
Following the postponement of the meeting, Havi will now remain suspended until May 27 when the next AGM is scheduled to be convened to deliberate on earlier recommendations to remove him from office.
Earlier meeting
At the rescheduled meeting, Havi will defend himself against accusations of gross misconduct, among others, that the council had levelled against him.
In a letter dated March 24, the LSK Council says the postponement of the meeting was informed by the prevailing public health conditions, among them increased cases of Covid-19 infections.
“This, coupled with the government’s containment restrictions (banning gatherings of more than 100 persons), it would be impractical to hold the Ordinary General Meeting as planned, without compromising the health of members,” the letter reads.
The Council said the management of Bomas of Kenya where the earlier meeting was to take place had confirmed it cannot host the intended meeting as scheduled, due to the prevailing Covid-19 containment restrictions.
“Towards this end and in order to safeguard the health of our members and to ensure full participation in the affairs of the society by the entire membership, the Council resolved to postpone the Ordinary General Meeting for a period of 60 days,” said the statement.
According to the Law Society of Kenya Act, 2014, the Council is required to convene an Ordinary General Meeting in March annually, a necessity, which has been hampered by the surging numbers of Covid-19 virus.
The LSK Council in February recommended that Havi be removed from office by the general membership for “want of capacity to lead.”
In a statement, the council required Havi to defend himself in person or through an advocate of his choice, and thereafter a decision would be made through a vote of all present members both physically and virtually.
Judicial officers
Havi stands accused of making personal appointments of his ‘friends’, failing the leadership and integrity test; bringing dishonour and disrepute to the society; causing them financial loss; stage-managing the passing of illegal resolutions among others.
In the postponed meeting, Havi was also expected to defend himself against the accusation of publicly abusing members of the law profession using blasphemous words on social media as well as frightening judicial officers.
Havi is also alleged to have imposed his personal assistant Esther Ang’awa as chair of the CPD Committee contrary to Rule (5) (5) of the Advocates (Continuous Professional Development) Rules 20
