LSK President Charles Kanjama with other lawyers during a press briefing/LSK
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has announced a nationwide boycott of court proceedings next week, citing the Judiciary's alleged failure to adequately address concerns over corruption, delays in the administration of justice, and judicial accountability.
The boycott, scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, is expected to see advocates across the country stay away from courtrooms in what the society described as a lawful and proportionate protest aimed at pushing for reforms within the justice system.
In a statement to members signed by LSK President Charles Kanjama, the society said the decision followed months of engagement with the Judiciary that had yielded little progress in resolving longstanding complaints raised by advocates.
"The Society shall undertake a nationwide boycott of court proceedings on Wednesday, 22nd July, 2026, intended to emphasise the seriousness of the concerns raised by members and to call for meaningful institutional interventions that will restore confidence in the administration of justice," Kanjama said.
The council also resolved to begin an indefinite targeted boycott of courts presided over by judges and judicial officers who have allegedly obtained court orders stopping the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) or the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) from investigating or processing complaints against them.
According to LSK, members have consistently reported widespread challenges affecting legal practice and the delivery of justice despite sustained engagement with the Judiciary through consultative meetings, memoranda and Bar-Bench forums.
Among the issues raised are allegations of judicial misconduct and corruption, delays in hearing and determining cases, registry inefficiencies, technological failures affecting e-filing systems, ineffective complaint-handling mechanisms, inconsistent case management and poor treatment of advocates by some judicial officers.
"Members have expressed concern over allegations of corruption, judicial misconduct, abuse of office and unethical conduct by some judicial officers, which continue to undermine public confidence in the administration of justice," the statement says.
The society said while it remains committed to protecting judicial independence, accountability and transparency are equally critical in maintaining public confidence in the courts.
"Judicial independence must go hand-in-hand with accountability, integrity, transparency and responsiveness to legitimate concerns raised by court users and the Bar," Kanjama said.
Besides the boycott, the council resolved to establish a confidential reporting mechanism through which advocates will periodically submit information on judicial performance, misconduct, corruption, registry inefficiencies and delays in court processes.
The information collected will be verified and used as evidence during structured engagements with the Judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission as part of efforts to strengthen institutional accountability.
LSK said the one-day boycott will not affect the filing of court documents, and advocates will continue lodging pleadings within statutory timelines.
Court mentions that applications involving interim orders will also proceed, but only for purposes of obtaining fresh hearing dates or extending interim orders where necessary to safeguard litigants' interests.
The society directed advocates appearing before judges covered by the targeted boycott to request adjournments, transfers of cases or recusal of the affected judicial officers. It further resolved that such judges should only deliver pending rulings and judgments and should not preside over fresh hearings until the legal challenges preventing disciplinary processes are resolved.
The boycott will also extend to hearings before the Supreme Court, except for registry services, because, according to the society, all but one of the judges remain in office under court orders restraining the JSC from pursuing complaints lodged against them.
Calling on advocates to unite behind the resolutions, Kanjama said the action was intended to defend the rule of law and improve public confidence in Kenya's justice system.
"Together, we will continue to uphold the rule of law, defend the independence of the legal profession and work towards a Judiciary that inspires the confidence of every Kenyan," he said.
