Kenya: The dispute between the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and its members over construction of Sh1.2 billion arbitration centre has moved to the Court of Appeal.

LSK wants the court to vacate orders issued by a lower court that had barred it from pegging the Sh39,000 and Sh50,000, intended to be deducted from each of its members, to the practising certificate.

The society told judges William Ouko, Roseline Nambuye and Erastus Githinji that the High Court erred in stopping it from effecting the deductions.

Through lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, LSK said that orders issued by the lower court could make some advocates, who were willing to pay to back down. The judge had issued orders giving lee way for those unwilling to pay to have their way.

Ahmednassir submitted that the ruling by the High Court would scuttle the body as it means that a small section of lawyers have powers against the majority members.