LSK election: Peter Wanyama concedes defeat, raises alarm over voter apathy
Peter Wanyama has gracefully conceded defeat in the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) presidential election, congratulating Senior Counsel Charles Kanjama on his victory after the February 19, 2026, poll supervised by the IEBC.
In a statement following the announcement of results—where Kanjama secured 3,728 votes, Wanyama 2,616, and Mwaura Kabata 2,086—Wanyama emphasized the importance of accepting the members' decision as a hallmark of true leadership. He also praised Kabata for a vigorous campaign and thanked his supporters for backing his vision of a stronger, more adaptive legal profession.
Wanyama expressed deep concern over widespread voter apathy, highlighting that only around 8,600 advocates participated out of more than 26,000 LSK members, with roughly 18,000 holding active practising certificates. He admitted his pre-election projection of nearly 13,000 voters was overly optimistic, rejecting notions of a "silent majority" influencing the outcome and instead pointing out that many simply stayed away. He posed a critical question about why so many lawyers remain disengaged from elections that directly impact their careers, describing it as a structural challenge demanding serious reflection within the bar.
Looking ahead, Wanyama called for reforms to boost participation, proposing innovations like online voting, digitization, blockchain for secure processes, and updated digital registers to make elections more accessible. His campaign had focused on preparing the profession for future demands—including technology, AI, climate law, and emerging fields—as the number of lawyers is expected to surge. With the transition to Kanjama's leadership now underway, Wanyama urged the LSK to address these participation issues to ensure a more inclusive and representative society moving forward.
