Kenyan Lawyers Launch Strike Over Judicial Corruption and Delays

Lawyers across Kenya launched a nationwide boycott of court proceedings on Wednesday to protest systemic corruption, chronic case backlogs, and persistent administrative failures within the country’s judiciary.

The industrial action, organized by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), saw legal practitioners abstain from appearing in courtrooms nationwide, including the Supreme Court. The boycott aims to force immediate institutional reforms and restore accountability in the legal system after years of unaddressed grievances.

The direct catalyst for the protest was a series of court orders obtained by judicial officers to block investigative bodies from probing misconduct allegations against them. Society leaders argued these injunctions effectively shield corrupt officials from accountability, creating an environment of immunity that undermines public confidence.

While advocates withdrew from general hearings and applications, LSK permitted filings and extensions for urgent matters to prevent total deadlock in statutory deadlines.

“The tipping point is the issuance of court orders obtained by certain judges and judicial officers which block the Judicial Service Commission and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission from investigating complaints against them,” said LSK President Charles Kanjama. “We are asking every lawyer not to appear in any court subject to the targeted court boycott.”

In response, the Judiciary announced that all court stations across the country remained open to hear matters as scheduled, urging advocates to resume normal duties. Furthermore, the Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association called for dialogue while urging lawyers to present evidence-backed complaints through official channels rather than resorting to work stoppages.

The LSK council and representatives from the Senior Counsel Bar are scheduled to hold a consultative meeting with the Judicial Service Commission on July 31 to negotiate reform measures.