The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) at the CSW IAWL-NYU Side-Event
- J. Jarpa Dawuni, Ph.D.
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
On March 18, 2025, the Institute for African Women in Law (IAWL), in collaboration with the Office of the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers and the New York University School of Law, hosted a symposium on General Recommendation No. 40 regarding Equal and Inclusive Representation of Women in Decision-Making Systems (CEDAW/C/GC/40). Themed “Accelerating Gender Equality in Law and Leadership: Africa in Post-Beijing,” the symposium was co-sponsored by several organizations, including the New York City Bar, the largest city bar in the U.S., the International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP), the NYU Birnbaum Women’s Center for Leadership, and various student organizations from the NYU School of Law. Ms. Irene Akoth Otto (hereafter, IAO), an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Council Member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), represented the Kenyan Bar. Prof. J. Jarpa Dawuni (hereafter, JJD), Founder and Director of IAWL, had a one-on-one conversation with IAO on the importance of gender equality in the legal profession, the role of women in leadership, and the LSK's role in promoting a gender-equitable workforce.
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JJD: Who is Irene Akoth Otto?
IAO: I am an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Council Member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) representing Nairobi. As the Committee Chair, I lead the Gender Committee of the LSK. In this role, my main responsibilities include enforcing Article 27 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, ensuring that gender issues are addressed by the Society and its members, tackling issues of GBV through strategic litigation, and ensuring compliance with policies on gender and women’s rights. I also strive to raise awareness about gender matters among all stakeholders—the police, the judiciary, advocates, and the public. As an ambitious young woman, I am eager to make a difference and positively influence my community, particularly regarding gender issues. I believe every woman deserves a seat at the table—the decision-making table. If our policies promote at least one woman in every sector, the world will move in a positive direction. Sometimes, a single woman can offer a different perspective that can change everything.
JJD: Why did you run for office?
IAO: I was called to the Bar in 2018. My initial plan was not to run for office, but the more I supported others, the more I realized that I could make an impact beyond just paying my membership dues and backing others. I wanted to be the change I wished to see. I spoke with my friends and colleagues, who encouraged me to run. I thought about it for a long time because I was scared of the exposure that comes with an elective office and how it would thrust me into the spotlight—I did not want that kind of attention. I did not want people to start focusing on me, following me, and commenting on everything I did. In August 2023, I woke up one day, and while attending an LSK activity, I told my friends I was ready, and they responded, “finally!” I created a WhatsApp group, and within one hour, it had over 1,000 members from all levels of the Bar. That is where the journey began.
JJD: Attending the event--Why was it essential for you to represent the IAWL-NYU event?
IAO: The LSK is a key stakeholder in ensuring gender equality, and the public looks to the LSK to take the lead. If we don’t take the initiative on gender equality, we neglect our mandate under Article 27, 81(b) and 100 (⅔ rule) of our national constitution. Despite the Bill presented to our Kenyan parliament to legislate on the 2/3 rule, it has never received the necessary quorum to be passed into law.
The symposium was timely and aligned with our work at LSK. It was eye-opening, revealing that women lawyers in Kenya are not the only ones facing these issues—other countries are experiencing the same challenges. It also highlighted that Kenya is doing well, yet we can strive for improvement. Engaging with excellent speakers at this IAWL-NYU event demonstrates that the agenda and discussions on gender equality are both global and ongoing. The first step toward achieving a goal is to encourage dialogue and raise awareness.
The LSK has in place a Sexual Harassment and Anti-bullying Policy which unbeknownst to many, has been in place since 2019. However, a lack of awareness of its existence and a reluctance to enforce it has kept the policy dormant. Victims, particularly women, often hesitate to report incidents due to the associated stigma, while others prefer to report anonymously to avoid backlash.
JJD: How can we address these challenges?
IAO: There is a need to create awareness through forums like this symposium at NYU. Women should speak up. Society must stop victim shaming. We should utilize strategic litigation to bring cases to court. Women must support each other through mentoring and providing counseling.
JJD: What are the specific challenges women in law in Kenya face regarding leadership?
IAO: Women running for office often do not receive support. Society belittles them, reduces them to sexual objects, calls them names, and perceives them as inadequate and incapable. But how can you determine a person’s capability if they are not allowed to run for office? We must give women an equal opportunity to run, and then evaluate their performance based on their record. For example, in the last LSK election, women were called derogatory names— “flower girls, " “just apply make-up and smile, "and some were referred to as dancers. Women face insurmountable hurdles—if you are married, you are judged as having insufficient time to lead; if you are unmarried, they question your decision-making ability; if you are divorced, they wonder how you can manage society if you cannot maintain a marriage. If you don’t have children, they doubt your capability to manage others. Women are subjected to judgment regardless of their positions or other intersectional identities and statuses. During our campaigns, someone told me, “You have a good manifesto, but why are you wasting your time? You are in your prime childbearing years; focus on your family. You will not be desirable for marriage and family because you would have’ wasted” your childbearing years in office instead of procreating.” Yet, if a woman is married and has children before running for office, she hears, “You are too old; leave it for the younger ones”—you just have to smile because you seek their support and you are the only one who understands your journey.
JJD: What made the difference in Faith’s election as the second woman president of the LSK?
IAO: Faith Odhiambo represented something people believed in. Despite the patriarchy, many wanted to see how a woman could lead. We had Rachelle Omamo as the first female president, and we saw Chief Justice Martha Koome as the first female chief justice. People were excited about this new wave of female leadership and wondered what it would be like. However, not everyone was supportive – many detractors remarked, “Let them give the women a chance so they fail—let us watch them stumble.” We had both sides: those who rooted for women and those who wished to see them fail to prove that women cannot be good leaders, asserting, “We gave them a chance, and they failed.” They have been proven wrong; the LSK is at its best. Through Faith Odhiambo’s leadership, we have achieved a lot in a short time and are making progress. Many people have rejoined the LSK, and the public is excited about our work. They want to hear the LSK's voice in the nation’s development—we are the voice of reason, the voice of the people, and the leadership they have been waiting for.
JJD: What measures has the LSK implemented to address gender equality in the profession?
IAO: We have various appointive positions on boards, tribunals, and other public bodies. We enforce the 2/3 rule when nominating people by ensuring that women are equally represented. We also encourage law firms to adopt equal hiring practices. During meetings, we ask the secretariat to promote gender diversity and equality. We have hosted webinars for our members on gender equality, but we lack specific training—we need partners for that. We require individuals who understand and can teach the basics, theories, and experiences of women. The Institute for African Women in Law can partner with the LSK by providing training for trainers, creating specialized continuous professional development (CPD) courses, organizing joint training sessions for women lawyers in Kenya, collaborating with the LSK in writing amicus curiae briefs, and conducting research on the legal profession, such as the extensive studies on African women in law and leadership already carried out by IAWL concerning women lawyers, judges, and academics in Kenya.
JJD: Any concluding thoughts?
IAO: I am impressed by the initiatives that IAWL is undertaking with universities such as the NYU School of Law, as well as the public adoption of your Gender Equality in Law Model Policy by the University of Ghana School of Law. We should promote this at the University of Nairobi and encourage law firms in Kenya to follow Ghana's lead and adopt the policy. The speakers at this symposium shared powerful real-life experiences that resonated deeply with me. I admire the strategy of using comparative research and data to advocate for gender equality in law. My visit was an enlightening opportunity, and I was pleased to learn that the GELC has made significant progress, including the endorsement from the Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union. I am optimistic that under Faith Odhiambo's leadership, the LSK will join the GEL Campaign and further the cause of gender equality.
The Big Apple Lesson
After walking for two hours to find my hotel in New York City (the Big Apple), I realized that no matter how lost one is in life, if you stay focused, you will find your way back to your destination or vision.
Irene Akoth Otto