Court to rule on LSK special general meeting orders today

Justice Joseph Sergon

The High Court will today decide if it will lift or extend orders barring Okoa Law Society of Kenya group from convening a special general meeting (SGM).

The faction had planned to hold the meeting to kick current LSK officials out of office over a controversial Sh1.2 billion arbitration centre the lawyer's body plans to build.

There was a heated argument on whether the orders were validly issued, with the faction claiming LSK hid some facts to win the judge's favour.

 Not served

"The statute allows LSK members to convene in an SGM and thus the orders issued by this court are against the right of association of these members," Justice Joseph Sergon heard.

In reply, LSK through its lawyer Elisha Ongoya, argued the right of association was not absolute, adding the orders should be in place until the dispute is settled.

Earlier, the eight lawyers named in the suit as respondents told the court that they had not been served with the orders They argued that it was impossible for them to argue whether the orders ought to be lifted without being privy to their contents.

They further contended that LSK would not be prejudiced if the orders were lifted but lawyers body held that the case had a chance of succeeding hence the orders should be extended.