LSK Orders Nationwide Boycott of Court Proceedings

The Law Society of Kenya has today issued a statement to members outlining the Council’s position on judicial accountability, the administration of justice, and the way forward in addressing persistent challenges affecting the justice sector.

While reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the independence of the Judiciary and the rule of law, LSK  has announced a series of resolutions aimed at strengthening accountability, promoting institutional reforms, enhancing structured engagement with key justice sector stakeholders, and improving the administration of justice for the benefit of advocates and the public.

LSK shall undertake a nationwide boycott of court proceedings on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

The Society shall also undertake targeted physical boycotts of courts presided over by Judges and Judicial Officers who have obtained court orders stopping or otherwise preventing the Judicial Service Commission or the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission from exercising their constitutional mandates of investigating or processing complaints or allegations of corruption or misconduct against those Judges or Judicial Officers.

LSK Full Statement

A court boycott is a lawful, legitimate form of collective action by advocates, who choose to down their tools for a limited period, to protest persistent challenges affecting the administration of justice and to advocate for institutional reforms.

As officers of the Court and essential service providers, advocates remain committed to ensuring access to justice while exercising their constitutional and statutory rights in a responsible and proportionate manner.

The Law Society of Kenya shall implement the following forms of court boycott:
a) A one-day nationwide court boycott; and
b) An indefinite targeted boycott of specified courts.

The success of these measures depends on the full cooperation and participation of all advocates. Members are therefore requested to strictly adhere to the following operational guidelines.

Operational Guidelines

1. Suspension of Court Appearances

During the boycott period, advocates shall refrain from participating in all court hearings and applications, except as expressly provided under these Guidelines.

2. Treatment of Court Matters

The boycott shall be implemented in the same manner as court operations during an unscheduled public holiday. The Society has formally notified the Judiciary of the boycott to facilitate appropriate administrative arrangements and to ensure that litigants are not prejudiced by the absence of their advocates.

3. Mentions and Interim Orders

Court mentions, and applications with interim orders may proceed ONLY for the purpose of taking fresh hearing dates and extending interim orders where necessary.

Where a Judge, Judicial officer, or opposing counsel declines to facilitate these limited appearances, the advocate concerned should promptly notify the Society for appropriate intervention.

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4. Court Filings

The boycott does not extend to the filing of court documents. Advocates should continue filing pleadings and other documents within the prescribed statutory and procedural timelines.

5. Member Feedback and Reporting

On the date of the nationwide boycott, advocates will receive a secure reporting link through which they will submit feedback and complaints relating to proceedings in the superior courts. Feedback concerning subordinate courts will be collected within one week thereafter.

For purposes of verification, members will be required to provide their names and P.105 numbers. All information collected will be verified, anonymized, and aggregated before being presented to the Judiciary and the Judicial Service Commission.

6. Targeted Court Boycott

To promote judicial accountability and strengthen the constitutional oversight mechanisms established for the Judiciary, the Council has resolved that advocates shall not appear before any Judge or Judicial Officer who has obtained court orders restraining or otherwise interfering with ongoing processes before the Judicial Service Commission or the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission relating to complaints, investigations or disciplinary proceedings, until such time as those orders are vacated or otherwise cease to have effect, and the Society has received formal communication of the same.

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Accordingly:

a) Such Judges or Judicial Officers should only proceed with the delivery of pending rulings and judgments and should not preside over fresh hearings, part-heard matters or new applications.

b) Where an advocate is required to appear before such a Judge or Judicial Officer, the advocate should respectfully and firmly draw the Court’s attention to these Guidelines and request that the matter be transferred to another judicial officer, that the judicial officer recuse themselves where appropriate, or that the matter be adjourned.

c) Any refusal to facilitate the implementation of these Guidelines by a Judge, Judicial Officer or advocate should be reported to the Society for appropriate action, including consideration of complaints before the Judicial Service Commission and any further action the Council may deem necessary.

d) The Society shall maintain and update the list of courts subject to the targeted boycott. The operational guidelines set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 above shall apply equally to the targeted boycott.

7. Supreme Court

The targeted court boycott shall extend to all hearings and applications before the Supreme Court of Kenya, save for Registry services. This is necessitated by the fact that all the Judges of the Supreme Court, save for one Judge and the Registrar, currently remain in office by virtue of court orders restraining the Judicial Service Commission from undertaking processes relating to complaints against them.

These Directions take effect immediately and shall remain in force unless varied or withdrawn by the Council of the Law Society of Kenya.

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LSK shall undertake a nationwide boycott of court proceedings on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. PHOTO/LSK X.