The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has reaffirmed its decision to continue a targeted boycott of specific judges and judicial officers, citing delays in implementing agreed-upon measures on judicial accountability. LSK President Charles Kanjama announced the boycott's continuation during a press briefing in Kisumu, emphasizing that advocates should refrain from appearing before the targeted judicial officers until further notice. This move follows a strategic engagement between the LSK Council, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), and the Senior Counsel Bar on July 31, 2026.
The July 31 engagement resulted in an agreed framework covering judicial performance reporting, complaints handling, pending petitions, court-station integrity committees, disciplinary regulations, and the relationship between judicial independence and institutional accountability. Despite some progress, including the composition of JSC and Judiciary representatives to a Joint Committee, several commitments remain outstanding. Kanjama urged members to comply with the Society's directive, emphasizing that the targeted boycott remains in force.
One of the outstanding issues is the Judiciary's failure to meet the agreed 30-day timeline for publishing institutional and court-level judicial performance reports. LSK has not received an explanation for the delay or an update on the verification process required before individual judicial performance information can be released. Additionally, the parties had agreed to an enhanced electronic system for lodging and tracking complaints, but LSK is awaiting confirmation that the system is operational and details on how advocates and the Society will access it.
LSK is seeking substantive feedback on long-pending petitions, complaints, and other processes before the JSC, including matters linked to the targeted boycott. The Society has called on the Commission to provide the status of outstanding matters and communicate the outcomes of concluded processes to affected parties and the Society. The formal constitution and convening of the Joint Committee, expected to monitor implementation of the July 31 resolutions, review progress, and address emerging concerns, is also pending.
Furthermore, LSK is yet to receive consolidated contact details for Court-Station Integrity Committees established at various court stations, which would facilitate engagement between advocates and the Judiciary on integrity and service-delivery concerns. The Society is also awaiting the current draft of the Judicial Service Commission Disciplinary Process Regulations agreed upon during the July 31 engagement, which will be reviewed and submitted to the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation.
The targeted boycott, which began on July 23, 2026, follows a nationwide one-day court boycott by LSK on July 22, 2026. The boycott is linked to concerns over judicial accountability, alleged misconduct, delays in the administration of justice, and the handling of complaints against judicial officers. Despite the boycott, Kanjama emphasized that it would not end institutional dialogue between LSK and the JSC, and the Society will continue engaging the JSC and the Judiciary on implementation of the resolutions reached during the July 31 meeting.
The Judiciary has rejected the LSK's court boycott, stating that the action is inappropriate, disproportionate, and punishes innocent court users. The Judiciary of Kenya, through spokesperson Paul Ndemo, and JSC Chairperson Martha Koome, have maintained that all courts will remain open and operational, emphasizing that the boycott disrupts justice.
Key points
- The Law Society of Kenya maintains a targeted boycott of certain judges and judicial officers over pending accountability measures.
- The boycott is linked to concerns over judicial accountability, alleged misconduct, and delays in the administration of justice.
- The Judiciary has rejected the LSK's court boycott, citing its impact on innocent court users and the disruption of justice.
