Help Kenyans in their quest for justice, Koome pleads with lawyers

Chief Justice Martha Koome is calling on advocates to be champions of access to justice for all especially the vulnerable in our society.

While emphasizing the role of advocates in promoting access to justice, Koome said lawyers should at all times harness the law to ensure justice to all.

According to Koome, lawyers ought to practice law for the betterment of communities and the nation. She reminded lawyers that the profession is meant not to enrich them but to promote justice and equal opportunity to all. Noting that inequality has become so rampant, Koome urged the new members of the bar to choose to be “compassionate” advocates.

Speaking during the admission of lawyers to the roll of advocates Wednesday, Koome expressed concern over personal ethics and financial dealings on the part of some lawyers.

“Unfortunately, we have had cases in the past that involve unethical Advocates who deprive clients the proceeds from the conveyance or litigation briefs that they handle on behalf of the client.” she said

The CJ gave examples of advocates who deprive victims of road accidents the compensation awarded by courts and those who deprive widows and orphan’s inheritance from the estate of their deceased family members.

“I hope yours will be the generation of advocates that puts a stop to such practices and no one from this lot of advocates will be struck off the roll of advocates that you have signed today due to such unethical acts that amount to professional misconduct.” She told the new members of the legal fraternity.

She expressed concern that majority of Kenyans, especially the vulnerable, are still excluded from enjoying the benefits of competent legal representation. As such she called on the advocates to be ready to go a step further than expected those affected get what they rightfully deserve.

“An advocate committed to access to justice must part of the solution to the problem of case backlog and delayed delivery of justice that bedevils our justice system. This involves resisting the temptation to apply for unnecessary adjournments that delay the hearing of cases.” She said

She added; “an advocate committed to access to justice ought to embrace the constitutionally envisaged shift to focusing on the merit of cases rather than unnecessary interlocutory and technical applications that has contributed to the delay in resolution of cases.”

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