The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has named 12 judges and one magistrate whom advocates will boycott from Thursday over court orders that have halted disciplinary proceedings by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) or investigations by anti-graft and criminal investigators.
The targeted boycott will begin a day after the society’s planned nationwide one-day court boycott on Wednesday and will continue until the restraining orders are lifted.
In a notice issued by LSK President Charles Kanjama, the society directed advocates not to appear before the affected judicial officers, saying they had obtained court orders stopping or suspending proceedings by the JSC, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) or the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Charles Kanjama during an interview at his office in Nairobi on February 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
“The targeted boycott will commence on Thursday, July 23, 2026, being the day after the general boycott, and will continue indefinitely until the respective court orders restraining the actions of the Judicial Service Commission, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and/or the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are set aside,” the notice states.
Justice Smokin Wanjala.
Photo credit: File
Those listed are Chief Justice Martha Koome, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Supreme Court judges Smokin Wanjala, Njoki Ndung’u and Court of Appeal judge Sankale Ole Kantai, High Court judges Josephine Mong’are, Anthony Ombwayo, Lucas Naikuni, Dora Chepkwony and Lucy Waithaka, and Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo.
Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The Supreme Court judges moved to the High Court in 2025 after the JSC sought responses to petitions seeking their removal over alleged judicial misconduct following the court’s decision to bar lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi from appearing before it.
Justice Kantai obtained orders in 2021 halting JSC proceedings arising from a misconduct complaint linked to the murder of Dutch businessman Tob Cohen. However, the High Court later quashed the JSC summons in December 2025, declaring them unconstitutional.
Justice Njoki Ndung'u.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Justice Mong’are secured orders in March 2026 barring the EACC from summoning or investigating her over alleged corruption linked to a commercial dispute involving former Cabinet minister Raphael Tuju’s assets and a Sh1.9 billion bank loan.
Chief Magistrate Atambo also obtained High Court orders in 2025 stopping the EACC, DCI and Director of Public Prosecutions from investigating, arresting or prosecuting her after detectives recovered Sh2 million in cash during a search of her home.
The other judges obtained court orders suspending disciplinary proceedings or investigations while challenging complaints lodged against them. Some of the cases remain pending before the High Court or Court of Appeal.
The publication of the list came a day after the Judiciary announced that courts would remain open despite the planned nationwide boycott.
Judiciary spokesperson Paul Ndemo said the boycott was “not an appropriate or proportionate response” and would mainly prejudice litigants whose matters are scheduled for hearing.
“Public accusations, however serious, cannot substitute for a fair investigation or displace the constitutional and statutory procedures established for addressing complaints,” Mr Ndemo said.
He urged advocates to pursue their concerns through dialogue and constitutional mechanisms rather than withdrawing from court proceedings, maintaining that complaints against judges should follow due process through the JSC and the Office of the Judiciary Ombudsman.
The LSK announced the industrial action last week, accusing the Judiciary of failing to adequately address corruption, judicial misconduct, case delays, registry inefficiencies and weak accountability despite years of engagement.
Under its operational guidelines, advocates appearing before the affected judicial officers should seek transfer of cases to other judges, apply for recusal where appropriate or request adjournments. The society also wants the affected judges to limit themselves to delivering pending rulings and judgments without hearing fresh matters.
The Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association has also criticised the planned boycott, urging the LSK to pursue dialogue instead of disrupting court proceedings.
While reaffirming a zero-tolerance policy on judicial misconduct and corruption, the association said complaints against judges should be handled through the JSC and the Judiciary Ombudsman in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
The dispute has escalated into one of the most significant institutional confrontations between the legal profession and the Judiciary in recent years, with the two sides divided over the balance between judicial independence and accountability.
The LSK insists the targeted boycott will remain in force until the restraining court orders cease to have effect, while the Judiciary maintains that judges are accountable only through established constitutional processes.
