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President Ruto Elevates 60 Advocates to Senior Counsel in Major Legal Recognition

NAIROBI — President William Ruto has conferred the prestigious rank of Senior Counsel on 60 distinguished legal practitioners in recognition of their exemplary contributions to Kenya’s legal profession and national development.

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The appointments, published in a special edition of the Kenya Gazette on Tuesday, December 10, 2025, represent one of the most significant elevations to the Senior Counsel rank in recent years, underscoring the administration’s commitment to recognizing excellence in legal practice and scholarship.

High-Profile Recipients

Among the prominent figures elevated to Senior Counsel are National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, a veteran politician and long-serving legal practitioner whose parliamentary leadership has been instrumental in navigating complex legislative processes.

Also recognized is Noordin Mohamed Haji, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Service and former Director of Public Prosecutions, whose tenure in public service has been marked by high-profile corruption prosecutions and institutional reforms.

Legal scholar and renowned public intellectual Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba received the honor in acknowledgment of his contributions to legal education, constitutional discourse, and advocacy for good governance across the African continent.

Ambrose Rachier, chairman of football club Gor Mahia and a distinguished corporate lawyer, was similarly recognized for his dual contributions to sports administration and legal practice.

Authority and Process

The conferment was made under Section 17(1) of the Advocates Act, which grants the President authority to elevate advocates to Senior Counsel based on recommendations from the Committee on Senior Counsel. This committee evaluates candidates based on their professional excellence, contribution to legal development, integrity, and service to the nation.

“In recognition of the exemplary service rendered to the nation in the legal profession, and in honour of their esteemed contribution to law and development,” President Ruto stated in the gazette notice, conferring upon the advocates “all the rights, privileges, precedence and pre-eminence of the rank and dignity of Senior Counsel.”

Diverse Legal Excellence

The list of newly appointed Senior Counsels spans various legal specializations and career trajectories, reflecting the diversity of Kenya’s legal profession. Recipients include judges, constitutional lawyers, corporate practitioners, public prosecutors, legal academics, and human rights advocates.

Notable appointees include:

Rapinder Singh Sehmi and Paul Ndiritu Ndungu, both senior litigation practitioners
Clement Muturi Kigano and Evans Thiga Gaturu, recognized for their corporate law expertise
Dr. Moses Masika Wetang’ula, the National Assembly Speaker
Professor Kivutha Kibwana, former Makueni Governor and constitutional law scholar
Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, legal scholar and governance advocate
Jane Njeri Onyango and Christine Anyango Agimba, representing women’s advancement in the legal profession
Dr. Hosea Kimutai Kili, Kennedy Ogeto, and Dr. Praxedes Chepkoech Tororey, highlighting legal practice across different regions
Ahmed Sheikh Adan and Nelson Anduyi Havi, former Law Society of Kenya presidents

Privileges and Responsibilities

The Senior Counsel designation carries significant professional privileges within Kenya’s legal system. Recipients gain precedence in court proceedings, the right to wear distinctive silk gowns, and enhanced professional standing that reflects their stature within the legal community.

Beyond ceremonial recognition, the Senior Counsel rank acknowledges advocates who have demonstrated exceptional legal acumen, maintained high ethical standards, and contributed meaningfully to legal development through practice, scholarship, or public service.

Senior Counsels are expected to serve as mentors to younger practitioners, contribute to legal reform discussions, and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct befitting their elevated status.

Representation Across Legal Fields

The diverse backgrounds of appointees reflect the breadth of legal practice in Kenya. The list includes specialists in:

Constitutional and human rights law
Corporate and commercial practice
Criminal prosecution and defense
Academic legal scholarship
Public service and government legal advisory
Sports and entertainment law
Family and succession law
Land and property law

Several recipients have served in judicial positions, including Dr. Ruth Anyango Aura, Dr. Mercy Mwarah Deche, and others who transitioned from the bench to private practice or academic pursuits.

Gender and Regional Balance

The conferment demonstrates attention to gender representation, with numerous female advocates receiving the honor, including Nancy Wakarima Karigithu, Rubeena Dar, Professor Kivutha Kibwana, Lumatete Walubengo Muchai, Anastacia Kioko Mululu, Jane Njeri Onyango, Christine Anyango Agimba, Hillary Chacha Odera, and Rose Caruthie Njoroge-Mbanya.

Regional diversity is also evident, with Senior Counsels drawn from legal practices across Kenya’s counties, ensuring the honor recognizes excellence beyond Nairobi’s concentration of major law firms.

Historical Context

The Senior Counsel designation replaced the colonial-era Queen’s Counsel (QC) title following Kenya’s independence. The rank represents the highest professional recognition available to practicing advocates and serves as acknowledgment of sustained excellence over the course of a legal career.

Previous conferments have recognized luminaries such as former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, constitutional expert Paul Muite, and the late legal icons Gibson Kamau Kuria and James Orengo, though Orengo’s elevation came before his current political role.

Legal Community Response

The legal fraternity has welcomed the appointments as recognition of practitioners who have shaped Kenya’s jurisprudence through landmark cases, legislative contributions, and institutional development.

The Law Society of Kenya, while not directly involved in the selection process, typically celebrates such recognitions as validation of the profession’s contribution to national development and the rule of law.

Commitment to Legal Excellence

The conferment comes at a time when Kenya’s legal system continues evolving to address contemporary challenges including corruption, constitutional implementation, human rights protection, and access to justice.

By recognizing diverse legal excellence, the appointments signal governmental appreciation for the legal profession’s role in strengthening democratic institutions, protecting constitutional rights, and advancing the rule of law.

For the 60 newly elevated Senior Counsels, the recognition represents both validation of past contributions and an expectation of continued leadership in shaping Kenya’s legal landscape for future generations.

The full list of appointees, as published in Kenya Gazette Notice No. 18138 of December 10, 2025, reflects President Ruto’s fulfillment of his constitutional mandate to honor legal excellence while demonstrating the breadth and depth of talent within Kenya’s legal profession.