The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has elected Eric Theuri as its 50th president for the next two years.
His successor is Nelson Havi, who was voted out of power by a caucus of branch chairpersons before the end of his term last year.
In national polls held yesterday the new LSK chief defeated former LSK vice-president Caroline Kamende by 726 votes.
Kamende received 1,085, while Theuri, a corporate audit specialist and campaigner, received 1,811.
He also defeated former LSK Council Members Omwanza Ombati, Coast branch chairman Mathew Nyabena, and LSK Treasurer Bernard Kipkoech.
“I will let you work and support you should you require my counsel. May you succeed where I failed and improve on what I did,” Havi said in his congratulatory message to Theuri.
The five candidates had eyed the seat; Omwanza Ombati, Matthew Nyabena, Bernard Kipng’etich who once served as LSK treasurer, former LSK vice president Carolyne Kamende and Nairobi branch chairman Eric Theuri are running for president.
Jackline Ingutia and Ann Kanoti were neck and neck for the position of LSK’s Woman Representative at Judicial Service Commission.
Faith Odhiambo won the vice-president seat while Jacqueline Ingutiah is the LSK female representative to the JSC.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) conducted the votes at 25 authorised LSK voting stations across the country.
The society’s seven-member elections board, led by Senior Counsel Janmohamed Zehrabanu, oversaw the electronic voting.
Ombati, his closest challenger, received 600 votes, by 8.30pm he had already conceded defeat.
Theuri had won in two of the Supreme Court and Milimani Law Courts’ major polling centres. He received 886 votes in the Supreme Court station, whereas Ombati received 281.
