Business Registration Service (BRS), Bernard Otiego, Head of Corporate Communications under the Office of the Attorney General and lawyer Steven Ouma at the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Annual Conference in the coastal town of Diani/HANDOUTAs the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Annual Conference ended in the coastal town of Diani, legal practitioners, institutional leaders, and regional bar representatives gathered to address the rapidly evolving future of legal practice.
Deliberating under the banner of modernising the profession, delegates explored the intersection of technology, regulatory compliance, and personal well-being.
The consensus among key participants was clear: artificial intelligence (AI) is set to reshape legal administration, litigation, and governance across East Africa.
Speaking on behalf of the Business Registration Service (BRS), Bernard Otiego, Head of Corporate Communications under the Office of the Attorney General, emphasised the vital role of advocates as core stakeholders in corporate formalisation.
He noted that direct dialogue with practitioners who interact with BRS digital platforms daily is essential for driving operational efficiency.
"We are here at the LSK annual conference as BRS advocates in the legal fraternity are key stakeholders. We are here to seek feedback from them on our processes," Otiego stated.
"When you look at BRS, in a nutshell, law is everything in our operations with the different acts that we implement. Therefore, advocates are key players in our day-to-day operations. AI is the next game in terms of ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of how we provide our services on the e-platform," he said.
"Today, if you want to register a company, AI should be able to tell you if the name is available or not even before you launch that application. AI is here to bring efficiency where we are looking at e-signatures for advocates. Dialogue and participatory communication are key."
Reflecting on the conference’s core themes, Vincent Gidega, Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Emeritus LSK Council Member, highlighted how emerging tools are redefining day-to-day legal practice and dispute resolution processes.
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Gidega underscored the urgent need for clear frameworks to prevent misuse while urging senior practitioners to learn from younger advocates.
"Our discussions have been focused on the advent of artificial intelligence and how that then makes our business unusual in the practice of law," Gidega explained.
"In the event that there will be a presidential petition challenging the presidential results, the timelines given by the Constitution are so limited. This will be the best opportunity for lawyers and judges of the Supreme Court to tap into the advantage of the advent of artificial intelligence," he said.
"It is time that we came up with regulations, both at the bar and at the bench, so that we do not have abuse or misuse of AI. Artificial intelligence is not here to replace lawyers. It is the lawyers who do not take AI seriously who will be wiped off from the profession and not vice versa."
Rounding out the discussions on leadership and professional sustainability, David Sigano, Chief Executive Officer of the East Africa Law Society (EALS), addressed delegates during the conference sessions, including the Gentlemen's Breakfast forum.
Sigano stressed the importance of embracing technological tools across the East African Community while maintaining personal wellness and institutional ethics.
"As a regional bar association representing practitioners across East Africa, our goal is to ensure that technological disruption enhances the administration of justice without compromising integrity," Sigano remarked.
"The integration of AI must go hand in hand with robust governance frameworks that protect client data and uphold regional legal standards.
"Furthermore, forums like the Gentlemen's Breakfast remind us that professional success in high-stakes litigation should not come at the expense of mental health and family stability. Striking a delicate balance between winning cases in court and sustaining our personal lives is critical for long-term practice."
