Renowned lawyer Philip Murgor has been elected as the new Chairman of the Senior Counsel (SC) bar, succeeding Fred Ojiambo, who has retired after years of distinguished service.
The announcement came during the Law Society of Kenya’s Annual Conference in Kwale County, where legal professionals gathered under the theme “Protecting Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law – Ensuring Accountability.”
Wiper Democratic Front Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who attended the event, praised Murgor’s election and called on the legal fraternity to embody courage in defending justice.
“I’m delighted to be attending the Law Society of Kenya’s Annual Conference today in Kwale. The theme is especially timely, and it reminds me of Robert F. Kennedy’s words: ‘Courage is the most important attribute of a lawyer… and it should pervade the heart, the halls of justice, and the chambers of the mind,’” Kalonzo said.
The Senior Counsel title is the highest honor bestowed upon advocates of the High Court of Kenya, reserved for those who have demonstrated exceptional legal skill, integrity, and service to the profession.
To qualify:
Minimum Experience — The advocate must have practiced law for at least 15 years.
Impeccable Record — They must have maintained a spotless professional and disciplinary record for at least seven years before application.
Proven Legal Excellence — They should have appeared in at least five substantial appeals in the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, and ten major cases in the High Court within the last decade.
Service to the Profession — Contribution through legal scholarship, mentorship, or service within the Law Society of Kenya is required.
The selection process involves vetting by a high-level committee consisting of the Attorney General, a Court of Appeal judge, a High Court judge, three Senior Counsels, and four advocates. The final list is forwarded to the President for conferment and gazetted by the Chief Justice, after which successful candidates sign the Roll of Senior Counsel.
Senior Counsels enjoy special privileges, including distinctive robes, reserved front-row court seating, priority in court hearings, and leadership in high-profile cases and advisory roles.
Murgor, a former Director of Public
Prosecutions and highly respected advocate, pledged to uphold the integrity of the profession, defend judicial independence, and strengthen the SC bar’s voice on constitutional and public interest issues.
His election marks not only a new chapter in the leadership of Kenya’s most distinguished legal ranks but also a reaffirmation of the values of courage, service, and accountability—principles that Kalonzo Musyoka reminded the fraternity must remain at the heart of legal practice.
