Full list: Why these lawyers want to be Senior Counsel

**Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi (right) with Githu Muigai during the hearing of the case challenging the 2017 Presidential elections.** [File, Standard]

For nearly every 696 lawyers in Kenya, only one is a Senior Counsel.

Such is the exclusivity of the status of Senior Counsel (SC), an honorary accolade every lawyer yearns to achieve.

Only 23 of the over 16,000 lawyers admitted to the bar have earned the status since its inception in 2003. It has been more than five years since the last lot was recommended to join the roll.

The title has similar privileges, rank and prestige of the Queens Counsel (QC) in the UK.

And now, 90 lawyers, among them Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Director of Public Prosecutions Philip Murgor, Zehrabanu Janmohamed who is also a non-executive director of Standard Group PLC and chairman of Political Parties Dispute Tribunal Kyalo Mbobu have applied to join the exclusive club.

In a statement sent to Standard Digital, the Committee on Senior Counsel says it has “commenced the process of deliberating on the applications”.

The committee that comprises the Attorney-General, a Court of Appeal judge, a High Court judge, three Senior Counsel and four advocates vets the applicant

According to LSK, one must have a minimum of 15 years' experience as an advocate, high integrity and unquestionable professional conduct.

One must also have contributed to the development of the legal profession through scholarly writings and presentations within the legal profession.

“The person must have not been convicted of any professional misconduct, has sound knowledge of the law, must have argued a substantive precedent-setting case before a superior court or international court, must have undertaken community service and served the LSK in any capacity,” LSK said in the notice calling for applicants.

Once vetted, the committee recommends the names to the President for conferment. The names are then published in a gazette notice, opening a floodgate of privileges.

According to the Advocates (Senior Counsel Conferment and Privileges) (Amendment) Rules, 2014, an SC enjoys privileges of having their cases dealt with first in court or before a tribunal.

They also allowed to wear special robes in court.

“They have the prestige of appearing robed in court, with a gown and court sleeved waistcoat similar to Court of Appeal Judges,” the rules states.

Such preferential treatment does not end with robes as they also get to sit in the front seats while attending court sessions.

“In a crowded court, you cannot find junior lawyers seated while a Senior Counsel does not have a seat,” a lawyer who sort anonymity told Standard Digital on phone.

He said the lot always leads the legal representation while helping mentor young lawyers and advises the Judiciary on administrative justice.

The lawyer added that an SC has a special space in time slots where their matters are heard and dispensed with first.

Here is the full list of the applicants seeking to be conferred the rank of Senior Counsel