This archive report was first published on 18 August 2021.
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) CEO Mercy Wambua has been at the center of a leadership crisis within the organization, with President Nelson Havi accusing her of frustrating plans for a planned audit on the use of funds.
However, in a letter dated August 8, 2021, Wambua dismissed Havi's allegations as false and fabricated, stating that the Council is committed to ensuring a professional forensic audit is conducted to settle any concerns over management and accountability of members' funds.
Wambua accused Havi of failing to undertake simple due diligence before issuing a press statement containing incorrect assertions, and called on him to abandon his 'aggressive campaign of misinformation' and join the Council in recruiting and appointing professional forensic auditors.
On July 10, Havi had accused Wambua of staying in office illegally, colluding with banks to deny members statements of expenditure, and for failing to change signatories to banks in which accounts of the society are domiciled.
However, Wambua maintained that the Council is more than ready to subject the financial statements of the society to a forensic audit, as long as the right procedure is followed in procuring the forensic auditor.
According to Wambua, the Council has requested the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (ICPAK) to recommend a forensic auditor, and has also requested to be provided with certified copies of all bank statements of the Law Society of Kenya Bank Accounts and Mpesa PayBill Statements for the period 2016 to date.
However, Wambua noted that the Vice President, Ms. Carolyne Kamende, is yet to sign the relevant letters to facilitate the issuance of certified copies of the bank statements.
