Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. Urges LSK Regulations on Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession

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   Makueni Governor and High Court Advocate Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has called on the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to establish binding regulations and disclosure frameworks regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in legal practice.
    Speaking at an LSK legal conference, Governor Kilonzo cautioned that unmonitored AI use is already disrupting the justice system, noting instances where legal practitioners have unknowingly relied on AI tools that generated non-existent or incorrect legal precedents.
      
                     Governor Mutula Kilonzo

 "One of the cornerstones of the legal profession is precedent," Kilonzo stated. "Where you quote a precedent, lower courts are bound to follow it under stare decisis. We must have discipline and strict policies on how and to what extent AI can be used, alongside mandatory disclosures, to prevent AI from misleading jurisdictions."
The Governor’s remarks touched on several pressing issues facing the legal fraternity and the broader public:
•Mental Health and Youth Mentorship: Addressing rising levels of depression and pressure among young advocates, Kilonzo emphasized the obligation of senior legal counsel to mentor junior lawyers, reminding them that building a reputable name in the profession requires time and patience.
•Financial Integrity and AML Compliance: Highlighting Kenya's recent grey-listing over anti-money laundering concerns, he noted that law firms must conduct strict due diligence on client funds to prevent legal accounts from being exploited for illicit financial flows.
•Public Interest Litigation: Kilonzo encouraged advocates to champion public interest cases—such as those tackling corruption, governance, and public asset sales—as a key form of legal pro bono service.
•Human Rights and Executive Compliance: The Governor issued a sharp rebuke against recent constitutional and human rights violations, including abductions and excessive use of force by state actors. He reminded the Executive branch that court orders are non-negotiable mandates, warning that disregarding judicial rulings risks dragging the country back toward lawlessness.
•Judicial Accountability: Addressing ongoing concerns around judicial corruption and advocate boycotts, Kilonzo called on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to establish swift, transparent mechanisms for resolving complaints against judges, asserting that judicial officers must remain "above reproach" to preserve public trust in the rule of law.


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