Ramadhan Abubakar Mukira has been elected the president of the East Africa Law Society (EALS) after Kenyan beating lawyer Nelson Havi. Ramadhan Abubakar delivers his speech after beating Nelson Havi to become East Africa Law Society President. Abubakar was elected the lawyers’ regional body president during the Society’s 29th Annual General Meeting, held at the Speke Resort and Conference Centre, Munyonyo, in Kampala, Uganda.
He beat his sole competitor, the former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi, by 273 votes against 139. “It is on this note that I promise to be a consequential and reformist President, harping on the society’s guiding principles of Excellence, Integrity and Customer-centricity. With the support of my colleagues, I know I already stand on the shoulders of giants and will fear no force or hurdle.
I extend a hand of friendship and unity to my opponent in the election, knowing that the EALS ship will never be too full, on its voyage, for anyone,” Abubakar stated. Abubakar takes to the helm of the regional law body at a time when the Community is celebrating 25 years. He takes over from Tanzanian Justice Dr Tanzanian Justice Dr. Fauz Twaib. He is the founder and managing partner of Ramadhan Mukira and Company Advocates, a law firm based in Nairobi, Kenya.
What is the mandate of EALS? The East Africa Law Society is the umbrella Regional Bar Association of the respective national law societies in East Africa (the Law Society of Kenya, Tanganyika Law Society, Uganda Law Society, Zanzibar Law Society, Rwanda Bar Association, Burundi Bar Association, the South Sudan Bar Association, and the Ethiopia Federal Advocates Association) and their individual members.
Where violations persist, the Society takes legal action and is the largest public interest litigator at the East African Court of Justice. It is among the apex bodies of the East African Community and has Been officially conferred with Observer Status by the East African Community and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. Established in 1995, EALS has contributed immensely to the development of EAC through strategic litigation and advocacy, building the capacity of lawyers and assistants.
“Within this period, the East Africa Law Society has been critical in supporting the growth of the Community, actively participating in significant legal processes including drafting of protocols, laws and policies governing the Community,” said EALS. The body is the most critical watchdog on human rights, the rule of law, and good governance, regularly overseeing the community’s compliance processes.
by Didacus Malowa