Aspiring Kenyan lawyers who were recently gazetted have just 48 hours to grab their crucial Certificates of Compliance and Final Transcripts – or risk serious delays in their journey to the Bar.
The Council of Legal Education (CLE) dropped a critical update today, announcing that documents for candidates gazetted on December 24, 2025, are now ready for collection. But there’s no room for procrastination: pickup is strictly limited to January 8 and 9, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the CLE offices in Karen Office Park, Baobab Block, Ground Floor.
“Candidates must strictly adhere to the stipulated collection period, as no extensions will be granted,” the council warned in its Monday statement – a clear message that missing this window could derail your legal career.
For those unable to collect in person due to exceptional circumstances, CLE has allowed authorized representatives – but only with prior written approval. Candidates must email support@cle.or.ke with the representative’s full name and ID details. The rep will then need to present their original national ID or passport for verification.
CLE CEO Busalile Jack Mwimali and the council congratulated the successful candidates on passing the Advocates Training Programme (ATP) exams and completing pupillage in the second quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year.
However, the council was quick to shut down common misconceptions in a follow-up clarification on December 30, 2025: Gazettement does NOT mean automatic admission to the Bar.
“This is a list of gazettement of compliant candidates, not admission to the Bar,” CLE stressed. “Compliance is only part of the eligibility criteria.” Final admission requires petitioning the Chief Justice, who reviews additional factors like nationality.
With the legal profession in Kenya growing more competitive, these newly compliant advocates are one step closer – but that tight January deadline is the immediate hurdle.
For the latest updates on CLE Kenya announcements, ATP results, and Bar admission requirements, stay tuned.
