The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), with the Machakos Police, have nabbed a lady who has been masquerading as an advocate in Machakos town in a bid to eliminate quacks in their profession.
The lady has been working at the C.M. Maweu law firm for the past three years without any qualification or registration as an advocate and has been duping the public by fraudulently processing legal documents, commissioning affidavits, drawing pleadings and receiving payment for the same.
According to LSK Council member Wavinya Nicholas, who spearheaded the operation, the LSK had come to do an inspection of all law firms in Machakos after being tipped off by members of the Society and the public about being duped by quacks pretending to be advocates.
“We have received credible information from our members from the LSK and members of the public of an increase in the number of quacks who pretend to be advocates and so we came to do a thorough inspection of all the law firms in Machakos and have arrested one individual,” said Wavinya.
She said the fake advocate has been arrested and is at the Machakos Police Station, waiting for the law to take its due course and sent a stern warning to members of the public to be vigilant against quacks masquerading as advocates and deal only with lawyers who are well recognised and are on the LSK database.
“we are encouraging members of the public to be vigilant when transacting with advocates and use their smartphones to search for the LSK search engine, where one can insert the name of the advocate meant to serve you and if the name is missing, stop the transaction because if anything happens, the LSK cannot help,” said Wavinya.
Additionally, she disclosed that through various inspections, they have discovered a rise in touting incidents among registered LSK advocates who harbour unqualified individuals as operation managers or ambulance chasers who are mismanaging their profession and urged lawyers to employ certified and registered advocates while upholding their professional standards.
Wavinya pointed out that the operation is a broader initiative of eliminating quacks in all the 47 counties and so far last month they arrested two people in Siaya, six in Bungoma and two in Garissa who were masquerading as advocates and duping the public.
“We are going to eradicate all quacks and masqueraders who have penetrated our profession and if we hear of your existence, we are coming for you,” declared the LSK Council member.
By Anne Kangero
