The Advocates’ Benevolent Association is the welfare arm of the Law Society of Kenya and exists to support and help members who are in need, in distress, or difficulties. The Association has a medical benefit available to distressed members who are admitted to hospital and have challenges in settling their medical bills. Additionally, the Association pays a token of last expense to families of deceased members and supports the education of their children up to tertiary level. The Board of Management of the Association is tasked with entering into strategic partnerships to sustain the wellbeing of Advocates.
Membership
Membership of the Association consists of every Advocate who is a paid-up member of the Society by S.22 (b) and 23(1) of the Advocates Act and of Advocates admitted to Membership by the Board under Rule 16 of the ABA rules.
The current composition of the ABA Board of Management is as follows:
The Board holds meetings with various stakeholders to discuss and agree on partnerships beneficial to members. The Board also sponsors the Members’ Welfare Open Days to achieve the objectives of the Association under Rule 3 of the ABA Rules to enhance the welfare of members.
Lastly, the Board conducts Branch visits to sensitize members on the objectives of the ABA.
Currently, the annual subscriptions are KShs. 3,500 and KShs. 150,000 for Life Member subscriptions.
ABA Membership
The membership consists of every Advocate who is a member of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) under Section 22 (b) and Section 23 of the Advocates’ Act and any advocate admitted to membership by the Board under Rule 16 of the Advocates’ Benevolent Association Rules.
Programmes currently in place
Education support is given to children aged between 4years and 23 years at the time of application.
Under this policy, the Association pays the children’s education from Nursery Level right through to Tertiary level subject to the approved limits by the Board. The current limits are as follows:
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- Nursery School –KShs 55000/= per student per academic year;
- Primary School –KShs 80,000/= per student per academic year;
- Secondary School –KShs 80,000/= per student per academic year;
- Tertiary – KShs 100,000/= per student per academic year;
- Kenya School of Law – KShs 190,000/=.
The Advocates’ Benevolent Association Board of Management is cognizant of the fact that Members are over time requiring medical assistance to help offset medical bills incurred due to various illnesses. The Board has, therefore, developed a policy that shall guide the disbursement of funds to Advocates in the event of sickness by Members.
This benefit, which is a one-off payment of KShs. 150,000/= is only applicable to a fully paid-up member of the Association and the appeal requested shall only be for inpatient cases. Payments are made directly to hospitals and a receipt is issued for the same.
The Last Expense cheque is paid to the next of kin as indicated in the deceased Advocates application for practicing certificate. If a non-practicing Advocate, in their latest update at the ABA secretariat. A formal appeal must be received by the Association within ninety (90) days after the demise of the Advocate.
The Applicants must provide the Association with a
- Burial permit/Death Certificate;
- Copy of the deceased Advocate’s Identification Card/ LSK Advocate’s Card;
- The Branch chairperson of where the Advocate ordinarily practices shall appeal on behalf of the Member.
The Amount payable is capped at KShs. 80, 000/= for Annual Members and KShs. 100,000/= for Life Members.
Wakili Personal Retirement Benefits Scheme:
Wakili Personal Retirement Benefits Scheme is a formal retirement savings plan for members of the Association and their non-Advocate employees. It is a structured and professionally run scheme to enable the Advocates to save towards their retirement.
Members who are interested in joining the scheme can access the membership portal by visiting https://ipascloud.azurewebsites.net. Payments can be made using Paybill Number: 541400 Account Number: 20046430.
For any inquiries, please contact [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].
Partnership between the Advocates’ Benevolent Association and Amani Counselling Centre and Training Institute (ACCTI).
The Board of Management is cognizant of the fact that the legal profession is competitive and demanding; and that members are vulnerable to stress, anxiety, burnout, depression, divorce, substance abuse, and compulsive behaviors and their reluctance to seek help as they are fearful, in denial, afraid of being embarrassed. As such, the mental health of Advocates has become a very critical issue and the same has been further exacerbated by the Covid 19 pandemic.
Accordingly, the Board of Management on Friday, 10th October 2025, entered into a strategic partnership with the Amani Counselling Centre and Training Institute (ACCTI) to provide essential psychological and counselling services to members and their families. This initiative was launched in response to the Board’s recognition of the intense professional pressures faced by advocates, who are increasingly vulnerable to burnout, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse within a highly competitive legal landscape. By establishing this MOU, the Board aims to dismantle the financial and social barriers surrounding mental health care, especially as the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect the fraternity.
To ensure immediate support, the Board of Management committed to covering the full cost of two individual therapy sessions for members. Beyond these initial sessions, a subsidized rate structure has been established to maintain affordable long-term care. These agreed-upon rates include individual counselling for staff at KShs. 3,500/- for two sessions, group therapy sessions at KShs. 20,000/- for up to fifteen clients, and family therapy at KShs. 6,000/-.
Additionally, the partnership includes provisions for customized training programs for up to thirty participants at a rate of KShs. 35,000/- per half-day session to address specific organizational needs. This milestone underscores the Association’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment where the mental well-being of its members is prioritized as a critical professional asset.
Individuals in need of assistance can contact the ABA Secretariat through the details provided below or Amani Counselling Centre and Training Institute (ACCTI) on 0112-376-713 or 0722-626-590.
Partnership between the Advocates’ Benevolent Association and Amref Flying Doctors.
The Board of Management of the Association has also entered into a partnership between itself and AMREF Flying Doctors. AMREF Flying Doctors is a leading, internationally accredited Air Ambulance Provider based in Kenya that has been in operation for the last 60 years with a dedicated fleet of short and long-range aircraft to facilitate accessibility to remote bush airstrips as well as to repatriate patients by air ambulance to other continents.
This partnership has created an avenue in which distressed members of the Association can receive medical evacuation services in case of a medical emergency.
Members interested in benefiting from the partnership can contact the Secretariat.
Contact Details
The offices of the Board are based at the Law Society of Kenya Secretariat.
Individuals in need, or those who may know someone who might qualify for assistance can get in contact with the ABA Secretariat using the e-mail address [email protected] or call: +254 717 595 006 or +254 111 045 300.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Advocates’ Benevolent Association is the welfare arm of the Law Society of Kenya and exists to support and help members who are in need, in distress or in difficulties. The Association has a medical benefit available to members who are admitted in hospital and have challenges is settling their medical bills. Additionally, the Association pays a token of last expense to families of deceased members and supports the education of their children up to tertiary level. The Board of Management of the Association is tasked with entering into strategic partnerships to sustain the wellbeing of Advocates.
Membership of the Association consists
of every Advocate who is a paid-up Member of the Society by virtue of S.22(b) and
23(1) of the Advocates Act and of Advocates admitted to Membership by the Board under Rule 16 of the ABA rules.
Membership of the Association consists of every Advocate
who is a paid-up member of the Society by S.22 (b) and 23(1) of the Advocates Act and of Advocates admitted to Membership by the Board under Rule 16 of the ABA rules. Annual subscriptions are payable in each year upon payment of the annual practicing certificate. Any member who shall be in arrears and who neglects to pay such arrears shall cease to be a member. However, the Board has power to reinstate such member upon payment of the arrears or on such other terms as the Board may deem fit.
The Education Assistance Programme: The ABA pays school fees for children of deceased Advocates aged between 4years and 23 years at the time of application. The Board however reserves the right to determine the support of the children who do not fall within this age parameter.
Under this policy, the Association pays the children’s education from Nursery Level right through to Tertiary level subject to the approved limits by the Board. The current limits are as follows:
o Nursery School -KShs 55,000/= per student per academic year;
o Primary School -KShs 80,000/= per student per academic year;
o Secondary School -KShs 80,000/= per student per academic year;
o Tertiary – KShs. 100,000/= per student per academic year;
The Last Expense Programme: This policy came into effect on 1st January, 2018. It is only applicable to a fully paid-up member of the Association. A formal appeal must be received by the Association within ninety (90) days after demise of the advocate. The Amount is capped at KShs. 80,000/= for Annual Members and KShs. 100,000/= for Life Members.
The Medical Assistance Programme: The benefit came into effect on 1st January, 2018. Benefit is only applicable to a fully paid-up member of the Association and the appeal requested shall only be for inpatient cases. It is a one-off payment made directly to hospitals and a receipt issued for the same. The Amount is capped at KShs. 150,000/=.
Partnership between the Advocates’ Benevolent Association and Amani Counselling Centre and Training Institute (ACCTI): The Board of Management is cognizant of the fact that the legal profession is competitive and demanding; and that members are vulnerable to stress, anxiety, burnout, depression, divorce, substance abuse, and compulsive behaviors and their reluctance to seek help as they are fearful, in denial, afraid of being embarrassed. As such, the mental health of Advocates has become a very critical issue and the same has been further exacerbated by the Covid 19 pandemic.
Accordingly, the Board of Management on Friday, 10th October 2025, entered into a strategic partnership with the Amani Counselling Centre and Training Institute (ACCTI) to provide essential psychological and counselling services to members and their families. This initiative was launched in response to the Board’s recognition of the intense professional pressures faced by advocates, who are increasingly vulnerable to burnout, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse within a highly competitive legal landscape. By establishing this MOU, the Board aims to dismantle the financial and social barriers surrounding mental health care, especially as the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect the fraternity.
To ensure immediate support, the Board of Management committed to covering the full cost of two individual therapy sessions for members. Beyond these initial sessions, a subsidized rate structure has been established to maintain affordable long-term care. These agreed-upon rates include individual counselling for staff at KShs. 3,500/- for two sessions, group therapy sessions at KShs. 20,000/- for up to fifteen clients, and family therapy at KShs.
6,000/-.
Additionally, the partnership includes provisions for customized training programs for up to thirty participants at a rate of KShs. 35,000/- per half-day session to address specific organizational needs. This milestone underscores the Association’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment where the mental well-being of its members is prioritized as a critical professional asset.
Individuals in need of assistance can contact the ABA Secretariat through the details provided below or Amani Counselling Centre and Training Institute (ACCTI) on 0112-376-713 or
0722-626-590.
Partnership between the Advocates’ Benevolent Association and Amref Flying Doctor
The Board of Management of the Association has also entered into a partnership between itself and AMREF Flying Doctors. AMREF Flying Doctors is a leading, internationally accredited Air Ambulance Provider based in Kenya that has been in operation for the last
60 years with a dedicated fleet of short and long-range aircraft to facilitate accessibility to
remote bush airstrips as well as to repatriate patients by air ambulance to other continents.
This partnership has created an avenue in which distressed members of the Association can receive medical evacuation services in case of a medical emergency.
Members interested in benefiting from the partnership can contact the Secretariat.
How can I get in touch? Individuals in need, or those who may know someone who might qualify for assistance can get into contact with the ABA using the e-mail address [email protected] or call: +254 717 595 006.
Contact Details
The offices of the Board are based at the Law Society of Kenya Secretariat. Individuals in need, or those who may know someone who might qualify for assistance can get in contact with the ABA Secretariat using: