Learned Friends Almost Exchange Blows Over Corruption

The meeting almost degenerated into fist-fighting forcing LSK chairman Eric Mutua to abruptly adjourn the meeting. Defiant lawyers, however, held a separate meeting later where they  passed several resolutions including the interdiction of the council CEO Apollo Mboya.

At the centre of the controversy is the International Arbitration Centre, a 1.2 billion shillings premise set to be built in South C area of Nairobi, to house offices of the society among other services.

The lawyers dubbing themselves Okoa LSK allege the society’s council has failed in transparency in executing the project that will cost members between 39,000 and 50,000 shillings in contributions per individual.

AGM ADJOURNED

In their numbers, the lawyers were here to insist that their woes be adjoined in the agenda, but Eric Mutua would hear none of it saying the matter was still in court.

The Okoa LSK lawyers too wanted the LSK council to step aside and its CEO Apollo Mboya sent on compulsory leave and that the anti-graft body investigates LSK affairs.

Mutua attempted to salvage the meeting but every try to introduce a new agenda was met with more resistance, he had no choice but to adjourn the AGM.

The defiant lawyers were undeterred as they quoted various sections of the law to warrant them hold a Special General Meeting in the absence of the society’s leadership. Assa Nyakundi was elected the chair of the session that resolved to abandon the 1.2 billion shillings International Arbitration Centre project and send CEO Apollo Mboya on compulsory leave as well as hire an audit firm to investigate LSK’s financial operations for the last 4 years.

OFFICE OF PRESIDENT’S INTERFERENCE

City lawyer Charles Kanjama, who is a former treasurer of LSK, found himself in a dark corner as he attempted to give a contrary opinion that he says are facts, with members accusing him of sympathizing with the LSK council.

LSK chair Eric Mutua has since dismissed resolutions of the special meeting as he claimed a senior government official at the Office of the President is being behind the chaos with an agenda to frustrate their fight against corruption in government.

These allegations compound a growing list of corruption claims at the Harambee House and in government, even as clarity remains to be seen in the allegations against the LSK leadership of exaggerating costs.

By Sam Gituku