Lawyer Willis Otieno has sounded a red alert over a state-sponsored plot to capture the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and turn it into a government lapdog.

With LSK elections looming, Otieno warns that installing "regime apologists" will dismantle the legal fraternity's ability to check executive excess and defend the Constitution. His warning comes at a critical time when the independence of the judiciary and professional bodies is under increasing pressure from the political class.

Battle for the Soul of Constitutionalism

In a fiery statement, Otieno described the upcoming election not as a mere professional formality, but as a "battlefield for the soul of constitutionalism." He argued that powerful interests are working behind the scenes to bankroll candidates who will be compliant and submissive to the Executive.

"Do not be deceived into thinking the Law Society of Kenya election is a small lawyers' tea party," Otieno wrote. "The LSK is not an annex of State House. It is not a department of government. It is supposed to be the legal firewall against executive excess."

The "Hashtag Olympics"

Otieno also took aim at the sudden influx of flashy campaigns, dubbing them the "Hashtag Olympics." He questioned why some candidates for LSK President are running campaigns that resemble national political bids, complete with sponsored hashtags and armies of bloggers who are not even members of the Bar.

"Why would an Advocate seeking the office of LSK President sponsor hashtags on X run by people who are not even lawyers?" he posed. The implication is clear: external money is flooding the race to buy influence.

• The Danger: A compromised LSK will stay silent on abductions, ignore punitive taxes, and rubber-stamp unconstitutional laws.
• The Call to Action: Otieno urged lawyers to reject "ego candidates" and elect a leader brave enough to look the President in the eye and say "No."

A History of Resistance

The LSK has historically been the country's conscience, from the days of the struggle for multiparty democracy to challenging the BBI. Otieno's alarm is a call to return to that heritage. If the LSK falls, he warns, the last line of defense for the common citizen falls with it. The lawyers' vote, therefore, is a vote for every Kenyan's freedom.