President William Ruto has conferred the rank of senior counsel on fifty four advocates of the High Court of Kenya during a ceremony held at State House in Nairobi.
The honour is the highest recognition within the Kenyan legal profession and is reserved for lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional skill, integrity and service.
Speaking at the event, Ruto told the newly elevated advocates that the distinction carries both prestige and significant responsibility. He said the senior counsel title demands a commitment to protecting democratic values, strengthening justice institutions and broadening access to legal services across the country.
He cited the Senior Counsel Conferment Rules, which require sustained excellence in practice, distinguished advocacy before superior courts, mentorship of younger lawyers, service to the Law Society of Kenya, scholarly engagement and exemplary conduct.
Ruto urged the recipients to uphold the national interest in their work and to nurture stronger cooperation between the Bar, the Bench and other arms of government.
Chief Justice Martha Koome echoed that call and said the relationship between the Bar and the Judiciary should be collaborative rather than adversarial.
She reminded the senior counsel that their professional culture will shape the future of the legal fraternity and stressed the importance of guiding young lawyers in both competence and ethics.
The ceremony drew senior figures from across the justice sector. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula was among those conferred. Other attendees included the Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and the Solicitor General Shadrack Mose.
The list of prominent lawyers elevated to senior counsel status included Njoroge Regeru, Katwa Kigen, Ambrose Rachier, Muthomi Thiankolu, Nancy Karigithu, Muturi Kigano, Paul Ndung’u, Issack Hassan, Mercy Buku and the former cabinet minister Kivutha Kibwana.
Ruto praised the Committee on Senior Counsel for running what he described as a rigorous and transparent vetting process. He said the new appointments strengthen public confidence in the legal profession and reaffirm the value of merit based recognition.
