The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has embarked on an ambitious initiative aimed at empowering it's members in a bid to cope with work pressure, stress at work.
According to the LSK, Rift Valley Chairperson Oscar Oduor, many lawyers have in the recent past experienced work-related mental health challenges and psychological distress arising from workplace pressures.
He said the branch has undertaken initiatives such as the Family Fun Day and the weekly Chairman’s Breakfast, which he noted provide members with opportunities to interact outside the courtroom and raise issues affecting their welfare and well-being.
According to Jacqueline Ingutiah, an advocate the High Court of Kenya and a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) representing LSK, since the e-filing system was adopted, there's has been little interaction with members.
Speaking during LSK North Rift Fun Day held at Zion Gardens in Soy constuency, Uasin Gishu County, Ingutiah noted that since 2022 to date, more than 8,000 lawyers have been admitted to the bar.
"Such events are welcome. Advocates benefolent fund association also ha such programmes we need to ensure these welfare initiatives are inculcated in our practice through well-intentioned and properly maintained mentorship programmes so that we get to learn from each other and get to engage and built a stronger and resilient profession," Ingutiah said.
"Behind lawyers in their ropes, files and deadlines, we have families and live in a community," she added.
On his part, LSK North Rift branch chairperson Oscar Oduor noted that advocates face a lot of pressure in their line of duty.
"Advocates go through a lot of stress and can even develop into depression. We belong to the greater society, we got to know each other to reduce our levels of stress," Oduor said.
He lauded the expansion of the access of justice in the North Rift noting that more courts have been opened in Moiben and Turbo areas in Uasin Gishu County with a court of appeal and three judges and 12 magistrates at the Eldoret High Court.
The country marked Katiba Day on 27 August which according to Ingutiah is a great milestone worth celebrating.
"We often speak of the Constitution as a document, yet its deeper significance lies in the promise it makes about the relationship between the people and public power," she said.
"The Constitution transforms public office from a source of privilege into an obligation of service and accountability," Ingutiah added.
According to the commissioner, Constitutional commissions and independent offices should never be viewed as inconvenient appendages to executive, judiciary or parliament.
"Their capacity to question, investigate, advise, challenge and sometimes disagree with those exercising power is not evidence of institutional dysfunction, it is part of the constitutional design," Ingutiah said.
"The more meaningful test is whether their work has helped make public power more accountable, more transparent and more responsive to the citizen," she added.
