Lawyers seek to strip Ahmednasir's Senior Counsel title

Lawyer Ahmed Ahmednasir Abdullahi. Two city lawyers have petitioned the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) seeking removal of lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi from the prestigious list of Senior Counsel over claims of his persistent and unwarranted attacks on the Judiciary. In a letter dated January 29, 2025, the two lawyers Paul Kiragu and John Njomo submitted a detailed petition urging the LSK's Committee on Senior Counsel to strip Ahmednasir of his Senior Counsel rank under the Advocates (Senior Counsel Conferment and Privileges) Rules, 2011. The request, seen by The Standard, highlights multiple allegations of professional misconduct, contempt of court, and defamatory statements aimed at undermining the integrity of the Judiciary. "Senior Counsel is a prestigious title awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional legal expertise, integrity, and professional conduct. However, Ahmednasir Abdullahi has consistently acted in ways that discredit the dignity of the legal profession and the Judiciary," the letter states. The petitioners accuse Ahmednasir of using both social media and public statements to engage in a sustained campaign of disparagement against the judiciary. They claim that his comments, particularly on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), have crossed the line from legitimate criticism to reckless and baseless attacks. In one notable instance on October 3, 2024, Ahmednasir posted a tweet alleging that "a Milimani judge had been ordered to issue orders stopping Parliament from impeaching DP @rigathi" and further accusing Chief Justice Martha Koome of "destroying the courts completely." Additionally, the lawyers details other inflammatory posts, such as his call for the resignation of Chief Justice Koome in August 2024, where he described her as "clueless and incompetent," and in September 2024, where he called for the removal of the "four most corrupt judges" in the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice. "The persistent and unfounded attacks on judges, particularly through social media, serve no other purpose than to tarnish the reputation of the Judiciary and undermine the public's confidence in the administration of justice," the letter continues. The lawyers also contends that this is not the first time Ahmednasir has faced censure from the courts. They also references several cases where the Supreme Court and other courts have found his conduct to be in violation of legal and ethical standard In 2019 in a case that involved some Iranians that was before Supreme Court, Ahmednasir was described as having acted in a "disgraceful and reprehensible manner" toward the Court. Similarly, in 2022, during the famous BBI case, the court condemned his disparaging comments on social media, particularly aimed at the Judiciary during the pendency of the case. In a ruling in October 2023, the Supreme Court noted that Ahmednasir had once again made "unfounded and disparaging remarks" against the court and its officers, demonstrating a persistent pattern of disrespect for the judicial process. Despite these repeated admonishments, the lawyers argue, Ahmednasir has shown no remorse and has continued his attacks with increasing frequency. "If anything, the Senior Counsel has become more emboldened, disregarding both judicial rebukes and professional conduct standards," Kiragu and Njomo stated in their petition. The petitioners, both seasoned advocates with over 15 years of legal practice, argue that the continued presence of Ahmednasir on the list of Senior Counsel risks further eroding public confidence in the legal profession. They contend that the rank of Senior Counsel, which is meant to honor lawyers for their integrity, professional competence, and contributions to the legal system, is being compromised by his actions. "The title of Senior Counsel would be rendered meaningless if it were allowed to be worn by someone who consistently engages in conduct that lowers the dignity of the legal profession and undermines the authority of the Judiciary," they assert In their request, Kiragu and Njomo call on the LSK to act swiftly and decisively. They emphasiSe that a failure to remove Ahmednasir from the roll of Senior Counsel would not only allow his harmful conduct to continue but would also send a troubling message about the LSK's commitment to upholding the standards of the legal profession. The petitioners cite international precedents where lawyers have been disciplined for making disparaging remarks against the judiciary, noting that the Kenyan legal profession must adhere to similar standards. The petition concludes by urging the Committee on Senior Counsel to find that Ahmednasir no longer meets the qualifications required to retain his Senior Counsel status. "The rank would lose its meaning if Ahmednasir could remain a Senior Counsel despite his persistent attacks on the Judiciary," they argue.

Lawyers seek to strip Ahmednasir's Senior Counsel title

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Lawyers seek to strip Ahmednasir's Senior Counsel title

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