Council of elders chairman jailed for three years for impersonation

An elder has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for impersonating an advocate.

Embu Resident Magistrate Jean Ndengeri said the prosecution had proved beyond doubt that Andrew Ireri, the chairman of the local council of elders, had committed the offence and fined him Sh215,000 for four counts or a jail term.

The court heard that Ireri prepared notices of motion and supporting affidavits and filed them at the Embu High Court on May 13, 2015 and on April 24, 2015.

The third count said that on December 22, 2014, at the Embu courts, Ireri, being unqualified, unlawfully drew and filed summons for revocation of a grant.

The last count stated that he managed an unregistered group together with others not before the court.

The court ruled that Ireri violated the law and that even after the charges were preferred against him, he continued to represent clients, thus not showing any remorse for the wrongs he had committed.

He was fined Sh70,000 and in default a one-year jail term for each of the counts and a further Sh5,000 or one month jail for leading an unregistered group. The sentences will run consecutively.

Ireri has over the years been representing members of the council, who jammed the courtroom during yesterday's ruling, in various cases after obtaining their power of attorney.

In September last year, Ireri filed a constitutional petition at the High Court in Milimani, seeking to amend the Advocates Act (Cap 16) so that any Kenyan can represent another in legal matters.