I will continue to serve till 2022, bullish Nelson Havi retorts

Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi has rubbished his suspension saying the council members had no power to make such a decision.

Responding to the statement from the LSK Council on Monday evening, Havi said he will not be vacating his seat until the end of his term as President.

“The 8 suspended Council Members do not have power to suspend President Nelson Havi. That is a preserve of Members in a General Meeting. The ‘suspension’ is a nullity ab initio intended to conceal theft of Society’s money. I continue to serve till end of term on 24.3.2022,” he said on Twitter.

The LSK Council had issued a statement announcing his suspension over alleged gross misconduct.

They recommended that Havi be removed from the office of the President by the general membership for ‘want of capacity to lead’.

“We hereby suspend Nelson Andayi Havi from the office and duties of the President of the Law Society of Kenya from 8th February 2021 to 27th March 2021 when the General Meeting where his defense will be heard in person or through an advocate of his choice and thereafter a decision made by the general meeting through a vote of all members attending the meeting both physically and virtually,” the council statement reads.

The LSK Council cited reasons for his removal from office as making personal appointments of his ‘cronies’; failing the leadership and integrity test; bringing dishonour and disrepute to the society; causing them financial loss; stage-managing the passing of illegal resolutions among others.

He is also accused of publicly abusing members of the law profession using profane words on social media as well as intimidating judicial officers by casting aspersions against them online and on live television broadcasts.

Terming him a bully, the Council further alleged that Havi imposed his personal assistant Esther Ang’awa as Chair of the CPD Committee contrary to Rule (5) (5) of the Advocates (Continuous Professional Development) Rules 2014.

“He has embarrassed the Society by seeking cheap publicity in furtherance of his future political ambitions through formal and social media slurs, torrents of insults and unlawyerly affronts,” the Council said.