A demand for an independent investigation into a multi-million shilling technology tender has rocked the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), raising serious questions about the integrity of the legal profession's own oversight body.

At the heart of the controversy is the procurement of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, a critical digital backbone for the society. Lawyer Peter Wanyama has formally challenged the tender awarded to ABNO Softwares International, alleging the contract value suspiciously jumped from KES 4 million to KES 24 million. This dispute places the LSK’s leadership under a microscope, testing its adherence to the very constitutional principles its members are sworn to uphold.

Questions Over Inflated Costs

The core of the allegations, articulated by Wanyama, centers on a procurement process that appears to have been abruptly altered. He claims that a member of the LSK Council revealed that ABNO Softwares International was first selected as the lowest bidder with a KES 4 million proposal. However, that decision was reportedly cancelled, only for the tender to be re-awarded to the same company for KES 24 million—a KES 20 million increase.

Wanyama, a managing partner at Manyonge Wanyama & Associates with extensive experience in public procurement law, further alleged that a senior LSK Council member has a relationship with the software firm and did not declare a conflict of interest. These claims, which he described as "grave," challenge the fairness and transparency of the entire process.

A Matter of Constitutional Integrity

In a formal statement, Wanyama emphasized that the LSK is not above the law. As a statutory body, it is bound by strict constitutional standards. He noted that the society must comply with:

• Articles 10, 73, 74, and 75: These sections of the Constitution demand high standards of integrity, leadership, and transparency from public officials.
• Article 227: This article explicitly governs the procurement of public goods and services, requiring a system that is "fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective."

The firm at the center of the storm, ABNO Softwares International, was founded in 2004 and describes itself as a premier provider of enterprise software for corporate, government, and educational institutions in Kenya and beyond. It offers a range of ERP products designed to manage finances, human resources, and compliance.

As members of the legal fraternity await a formal response from the LSK Council, this case escalates beyond a simple contractual dispute. It has become a critical test of accountability for an institution mandated to be a bastion of justice and the rule of law in Kenya.