LSK Cracks down on Fake Lawyers in Bungoma, 5 Arrested
- A crackdown on fake lawyers in Bungoma town led to the arrest of five individuals who were found operating illegal law firms
- The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) conducted the crackdown following complaints from members of the public over individuals who were conning them while masquerading as lawyers
- A search in the law firms found several documents, including title deeds and case files of matters still active in court
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Five people have been arrested in Bungoma for allegedly masquerading as lawyers.
Source: Original
The five were arrested following a crackdown conducted by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Crackdown on fake lawyers in Bungoma
Speaking to the media in Bungoma town on Wednesday, June 4, the LSK council member who led the crackdown, Steve Mbugua, stated that the move is part of their efforts to safeguard lawyers’ space of practice.
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Mbugua revealed that the operation followed numerous complaints from members of the public in Bungoma county over individuals who were conning them while masquerading as advocates.
“In today’s operations, we have managed to arrest five individuals who have been running four separate law firms which they purport to be legal,” the LSK council member said.
He noted that after interrogating the suspects, it was established that the fake law firms have been operational for several years.
A search was conducted in the four law firms' offices. Several documents were recovered, including title deeds and case files of matters pending in court.
This indicated that the fake lawyers had also been appearing in courts, especially in virtual sessions.
The crackdown also discovered that some office secretaries had modified stamps and receipts and received cash from clients without the knowledge of their bosses
“It is very unfortunate that we continue witnessing this, especially in the upcountry. The Law Society of Kenya has made it a permanent resolve to remove all masqueraders from this profession and to safeguard the public interests under section IV of the LSK Act, which mandates us to protect this space of practice,” Mbugua said.
How to verify a legal provider in Kenya
He also urged members of the public seeking legal services to verify the names of lawyers in the LSK list of those officially allowed to practice.
“To verify if a legal provider is our member, enter the name of the person purporting to be an advocate on our website, and it shall provide you with the picture, the details of their licence validity, and their office location,” the LSK council member explained.
He further said LSK had put in place mechanisms that ensure law firms of individuals suspected of being masqueraders are not reopened in the event they are released on bail once arraigned in court.
Source: Original
Mbugua also warned individuals against masquerading as lawyers with the intent to take advantage of members of the public.
The suspects were taken to Bungoma police station for processing.
An individual found guilty of masquerading as a lawyer may be sentenced to serve a maximum of three years or fined.
LSK case against Brian Mwenda
Previously, TUKO.co.ke had reported that former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko had asked LSK to withdraw a case against alleged fake lawyer Brian Mwenda.
Sonko said LSK should be lenient on Mwenda to allow him to finish his studies and officially be a lawyer.
Mwenda is accused of masquerading as a lawyer and practising with a fake identity.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: [email protected]
Tony Wafula Tony Wafula is a talented journalist with a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication from Dominion Training Institute (ICM) 2017-2019. Known for his exceptional storytelling abilities, Wafula has earned recognition for his outstanding contributions to journalism. He is particularly dedicated to gender-responsive reporting, and his commitment to promoting gender equality through his work has earned him accolades in the field. Tony is based in Bungoma county. He is accredited by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
