DON’T FEAR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, EMBRACE IT AS A PARTNER IN JUSTICE: KENYAN ADVOCATE LAWRENCE KINYANJUI URGES LEGAL PROFESSION

  As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape global industries, Kenyan legal professionals are being urged to embrace technology rather than view it as a threat to their livelihoods.

  Speaking on the sidelines of a recent high-level legal conference centered on AI’s impact on the legal landscape, Lawrence Kenyanjui, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, challenged lawyers—particularly young practitioners entering the field—to adapt to technological changes to enhance service delivery and access to justice.

       "Business Unusual": Adapting to a New Reality

  This year’s conference theme focused on the disruptive force of technology under the banner of "Business Unusual: AI and Its Impact on Legal Practice." According to Kenyanjui, the event served as a crucial wake-up call for the legal fraternity to acknowledge the inevitability of digital transformation.

  "We've been challenged to keep up with AI and to adopt it in our practices because it's a reality," Kenyanjui remarked. "Like everybody else, we need to acknowledge that it's here and figure out how to make the best use of it."

          

Advocate of the High Court Lawrence Kinyanjui 

            Assuaging Fears of Replacement

  Addressing growing anxieties among emerging lawyers that automation and generative AI tools might render traditional legal roles obsolete, Kenyanjui dismissed the notion that machines will replace human legal minds.

  Instead, he framed AI as an empowering ally capable of modernizing back-office operations, streamlining caseload management, and elevating overall work quality.

  "AI is here to stay, and [young lawyers should] see it as a friend and something that you must master rather than something that you must fight against," he advised. "I know there are fears in the marketplace that AI is coming to take away people's jobs, lawyers included. But I say no. AI is powered by us. We are the ones who put our input into it to make it useful."

               Bridging Tech and the Law

  The conference provided a collaborative forum that brought together legal practitioners, AI policymakers, and legal-tech developers demonstrating software solutions tailored for law firms. Kenyanjui highlighted the importance of these cross-industry discussions in helping lawyers move from theoretical understanding to practical application.

   Ultimately, he reminded practitioners that while tools evolve, the core purpose of the legal profession remains constant.

"Remember, at the end of the day, the reason why we wake up to go to work every day is to deliver quality services and justice for all," Kenyanjui said. "AI is just one of the ways in which you can ensure that continues to happen. So there's nothing to fear. Let's dive into it and do our best with it."