NAIROBI, Kenya — Senior Counsel Charles Kanjama has been elected President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), securing 3,728 votes in the 2026 leadership contest.
Kanjama defeated Peter Wanyama, who finished second with 2,616 votes, while Mwaura Kabata placed third with 2,086 votes.
He succeeds Faith Odhiambo, whose two-year term at the helm of the lawyers’ professional body has now concluded.
Kanjama assumes office for the 2026–2028 council term, bringing more than two decades of legal experience in constitutional litigation, governance and public interest law.
His election is widely seen within the legal fraternity as a preference for experienced leadership at a time when the LSK’s influence in constitutional debates, electoral reforms and rule-of-law disputes remains pronounced.
While acknowledging the scale of responsibilities ahead, observers say the Senior Counsel’s presidency signals a renewed emphasis on professional standards, institutional independence and policy engagement.
The society represents more than 20,000 practising advocates across Kenya and plays a key role in shaping national legal discourse through litigation, advisory opinions and public advocacy.
Lawyers voted nationwide to elect the President, Vice-President and Council members in the biennial polls, which were conducted at High Court stations across the country.
The exercise was supervised by the LSK Elections Board with logistical support from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The collaboration reflects an emerging partnership aimed at strengthening professional electoral processes and addressing procedural gaps identified in previous contests.
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Legal analysts say such cooperation may also contribute to broader electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 General Election, as the legal profession increasingly positions itself as a watchdog on governance and democratic accountability.
Kanjama takes over from Odhiambo, who rose to the presidency in 2024 with 3,113 votes after a competitive five-candidate race that highlighted generational shifts within the profession.
His administration is expected to confront a packed agenda, including legal sector reforms, advocate welfare, digitalisation of court processes and the society’s role in high-profile constitutional litigation.
With Kenya approaching a politically sensitive electoral cycle, the LSK’s leadership is likely to remain influential in debates around electoral integrity, civil liberties and institutional oversight.
