Lawyers Announce Nationwide Court Boycott
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called for a nationwide boycott of court proceedings this week, accusing the Judiciary of failing to tackle persistent concerns over corruption, case backlogs and weak accountability within the justice system.
The one-day boycott, scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, will see advocates across the country stay away from courtrooms in what the lawyers’ body described as a lawful protest intended to pile pressure on the Judiciary to implement far-reaching reforms.
In a statement to members signed by LSK President Charles Kanjama, the society said the decision was reached after months of engagement with the Judiciary failed to produce meaningful progress on issues repeatedly 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.
LSK further resolved that judges covered by the boycott should limit their work to delivering pending rulings and judgments and refrain from hearing new matters until legal barriers preventing disciplinary proceedings are lifted.
The boycott will also apply to proceedings before the Supreme Court, with the exception of registry services, as the society noted that all but one of the judges continue to serve under court orders restraining the JSC from pursuing complaints filed against them.
Kanjama urged advocates to support the resolutions, saying the action was aimed at safeguarding the rule of law and restoring public trust 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.
Despite the planned boycott, advocates will continue filing court documents to ensure compliance with statutory deadlines.
The society also directed that mentions involving interim applications should proceed only for purposes of obtaining new hearing dates or extending interim orders where necessary to safeguard the interests of litigants.
Lawyers appearing before judges affected by the targeted boycott have been advised to seek adjournments, request transfers of their cases or apply for the recusal of the judicial officers concerned.
LSK further resolved that judges covered by the boycott should limit their work to delivering pending rulings and judgments and refrain from hearing new matters until legal barriers preventing disciplinary proceedings are lifted.
Beyond the one-day protest, the LSK Council resolved to launch an indefinite targeted boycott of courts presided over by judges and judicial officers who have obtained court orders barring the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) or the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) from investigating or processing complaints lodged against them.