Fake advocate arrested in Nyeri

Washington Munene Macharia, when he was arraigned before the Nyeri Chief Magistrate John Onyiego On July 8, 23 2016 and charged for purporting to be a lawyer, he could not take plea as prosecutor asked more time to complete investigation. PHOTO: KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD

Police in Nyeri are holding a middle aged man suspected to be impersonating a lawyer and an advocate of the High court.

Washington Munene Macharia was arrested Friday by a special team of detectives at his home in Naro Moru in Kieni East sub-county and driven to Nyeri Central police station where he is held for questioning.

Nyeri OCPD Masai Makau told The Standard that Macharia is accused of fleecing litigants in Kangema law courts of thousands of shillings while masquerading as an advocate.

"After lawyers blew the whistle against his conduct, claiming he was an imposter, he sought refuge in Nyeri and Karatina law courts, before the local Law Society of Kenya raised the alarm," Makau explained.

He said detectives assisted by lawyers managed to nab him at around 2pm from his hideout in Naro Moru where he had opened an office.

Makau said police are in the process of handing him over to their Kangema counterparts where police were hunting him down and was likely to face charges of impersonation.

"We sought to arrest him following numerous complaints by LSK local chapter and members of the public who raised alarm after being conned of their money," the OCPD observed.

LSK Vice Chairman Muthui Kimani, claimed two years ago, the suspect was arrested as he left Nyeri law court after representing a client on a land matter.

"He was taken to the police station where he was bonded to appear in court on a Monday since it was on a Friday. However, he disappeared and vanished into thin air," Kimani stated.

After going underground for some time, the vice chair noted that Macharia later resurfaced again at Karatina law courts but again, managed to dodge the police after a friend tipped him of an imminent arrest.

Muthui stated that on October last year, the suspect was spotted at a court in Kangema, prompting one of the advocates from Nyeri to bring the matter to the attention of the magistrate who issued a warrant for his arrest.

"But even before police could move in, he sprinted out of the courtroom to where he had packed his vehicle and run away," the lawyer explained.

He said currently, the imposter has two matters pending in court, including a criminal matter and another in the Environment and land court.

"Lawyers in the region are concerned of many land matters, especially in Kieni East where he is alleged to have signed land transfer consent forms. We wonder how he managed to work with the land control board," Kimani claimed.