Advocate Steven Kitale files lawsuit against TLS nine days after court approval

Mwanza. Nine days after the High Court of Tanzania in Mwanza Region granted permission for lawyer Steven Kitale to file a legal review application against the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), he has now officially filed the lawsuit.

The case, numbered 17558/2024, was filed on July 22 of this year before Judge Wilbert Chuma.

Kitale stated that he has already served summons to all four respondents.

The respondents in this case, which is set for hearing at the High Court here in Mwanza on Friday, July 26, 2024, include the TLS, the TLS Executive Director, the TLS Governing Council, and the Attorney General (AG).

In the lawsuit, Kitale, who is also a member of the TLS Governing Council, challenges the society's decision to increase membership fees for attending the Annual General Meeting (AGM) from Sh118,000 to Sh200,000.

He claims that when he requested minutes of the meetings that approved the increase, he faced obstruction, preventing him from fulfilling his responsibilities to the members.

"We request full information regarding the increase in fees for lawyers attending AGM meetings. Initially, the cost proposed by the TLS Governing Council was Sh118,767, which was passed in the budget, but later there was an increase to Sh200,000. This is when we started questioning without receiving satisfactory answers," said Kitale.

Among other arguments in the case, he asks the court to order the TLS Executive Director and Governing Council to provide minutes of the meetings that approved these costs, including those of the Election Committee of TLS and the Election Appeals Committee.

He alleges violations of election laws, procedures, and regulations.

"In an organization that promotes transparency and adheres to the rule of law, it has failed to demonstrate these qualities by not upholding the rule of law, which is why we have decided to seek justice in court," Kitale said.

Previously, Kitale's lawyer, Godfrey Basasingohe, stated more than 20 lawyers are expected to join him in this case.

"My client's two applications have been brought before the court after exhausting all legal avenues and preliminary steps required by law. He has now decided to bring these parties to court to compel them to provide the documents he requested."

"These documents are crucial, and since Steven Kitale holds dual roles, as both a leader and member of TLS, the lack of these documents has deprived him of demonstrating accountability within the organisation and how decisions were made by the leadership council,” he noted.

He added that to ascertain the legitimacy of the election commission and its decisions, he expects justice to prevail in court.