- Speaker Moses Wetang’ula was shocked after being barred from voting in the Law Society of Kenya elections
- The LSK election board secretary explained the reason why Wetang’ula was not eligible to vote in the elections
- Several prominent leaders, including the IEBC chairperson, the Nairobi senator, and the PLP party leader, participated in the polls
Nancy Odindo is a Kenyan journalist at TUKO.co.ke with five years of experience covering politics, news, and features across digital and print media.
Nairobi: The Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, has been barred from voting in the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) elections held on Thursday, February 19.
Source: Facebook
Wetang’ula arrived at the Supreme Court of Kenya to cast his vote but was locked out from the crucial exercise since his name was missing from the voter register.
Why was Wetang’ula’s name missing from LSK’s voter register?
When he questioned the reason behind the status, he was informed by the LSK election board secretary, Owiso Owiso, that he had no valid practising license.
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“As a speaker of the National Assembly, I am not in mainstream practice. So it is moot to take a practicing certificate, and you have told us we do not have to. How come I am not on the voting register?” Wetang’ula asked.
Despite the evident shock, Owiso maintained that they were enforcing regulations that were passed by members of the society, a team Wetang’ula is part of.
“Unfortunately, members, including yourself and myself, passed a regulation that insists you can only vote when you take out a PC (practicing certificate), which locks out state officers. But it is the members who passed the law. Our role is to enforce the rule,” he stated.
Did other leaders participate in LSK elections?
Wetang’ula jokingly stated that his failure to vote could lead to the election of the wrong person.
“You have lost my vote, and because of this, the lack of my vote will get a wrong person elected,” Wetang’ula jokingly stated before leaving the station.
Meanwhile, the elections were conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) following a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening electoral processes and addressing systemic weaknesses witnessed in the past elections.
Several leaders, including IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon, Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna, Wiper Patriotic Front Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, and Kirinyaga woman representative Njeri Maina, participated in the exercise.
The lawyers voted to choose the next president, vice president, and council members of the society, which represents more than 20,000 practising advocates nationwide.
Who vied for the LSK presidential race?
Meanwhile, three key figures were contesting the top seat to replace Faith Odhiambo, who has been at the helm of the body for two years.
Source: Twitter
Among the candidates was Charles Kanjama, who received endorsement from prominent lawyers, including Nelson Havi. He has two decades of legal expertise.
Lawyers Peter Wanyama and Mwaura Kabata also expressed willingness for the position.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
