Remarks · 11 December 2025
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Legal Fraternity,
We gather here this morning to confer the rank of Senior Counsel upon 54 of our distinguished advocates, men and women whose illustrious service, rigorous scholarship, and impeccable integrity have earned them a place at the very pinnacle of legal excellence.
Congratulations to each one of you. You stand here today because you are, beyond question, truly meritorious of the distinguished title of Senior Counsel.
This is not only a badge of honour, but it is also a solemn recognition of merit, responsibility, and trust.
It also reflects the constitutional promise of a nation anchored in the rule of law, protected by rigorous and robust institutions, and guided by a justice system worthy of public confidence.
The legal foundation for this moment is firmly set out in Section 17 of the Advocates Act, which empowers the President to grant letters of conferment to advocates who have rendered exemplary service, demonstrated professional mastery, and upheld impeccable integrity.
The Senior Counsel Conferment Rules, particularly Rule 7, set an even higher bar for you: They require sustained excellence in active practice, distinguished advocacy before the superior courts, dedicated mentorship of younger advocates, faithful service to the Law Society of Kenya, meaningful scholarly contribution, and an unimpeachable standard of professional conduct.
Across the Commonwealth, the rank of Senior Counsel is emblematic of the highest standards of legal craftsmanship and ethical clarity.
In Kenya, as in India, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, among others, elevation to this rank is rooted in merit, public confidence, and strict scrutiny. Only the most deserving are called to this honour. And so, it is today.
To the 54 advocates being celebrated here today, you have demonstrated exceptional advocacy in our superior courts. You have shaped jurisprudence, enriched legal scholarship, mentored younger members of the Bar, and served both the profession and society with admirable devotion.
Your ascension is equally an affirmation of the confidence this nation places in you to be guardians of integrity, champions of justice, and stewards of ethical leadership.
With this honour comes an even greater responsibility. You are called to safeguard our democracy, to strengthen our institutions of justice, to support necessary reforms, and to help widen the doors of access to justice.
May I also take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the Committee on Senior Counsel for their rigorous, transparent, and principled evaluation process. Your work upholds the dignity of this rank and reinforces public trust in our systems of professional recognition. Asanteni sana. ###