LSK hunting down ‘impostor’ lawyers

By Harold Ayodo

Nairobi, Kenya: The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has launched a crackdown on quacks operating as licensed lawyers countrywide.

 LSK Chief Executive Officer Apollo Mboya regrets allegations that some of the quack lawyers are acting as agents of some judicial officers.

 “Majority of the quacks masquerade as advocates in courts in Kisii, Awendo, Rongo, Migori, Nyamira, Kehancha, Molo, Ruiru and Thika,” Mboya said.

He said that some of the quacks posing as conveyances (property lawyers) have fleeced unsuspecting prospective investors in real estate fortunes running into millions of shillings.

“There are also genuine advocates with valid practicing certificates working with quacks to fleece the unsuspecting public,” Mboya said.

The CEO said another group of the fraudsters include advocates who have no valid practicing certificates for the current year.

“Some qualified lawyers with firms in other towns in Kenya including Nairobi have also opened offices up country ran by unqualified people like court clerks,” Mboya said.

The CEO said that the legal professional body is on the process of compiling a list of shame that would this week be published and shared with the Judiciary and police.

 “We call on the public to confirm names of certified lawyers on our website www.lsk.or.ke  before engaging them with legal briefs,” Mboya said.

 

Currently, LSK has 10,033 registered members with 5,516 licensed to practice, 53 are struck off the Roll of Advocates while 27 are under suspension following professional indiscipline.

Between 2001 and 2012, LSK received 2,389 cases on indiscipline, heard and concluded 1,867 with 499 pending.

“We regret emerging allegations of these quacks working in cohort with judicial officers who are aware that they are not advocates,” Mboya said.

The CEO has said that LSK will from this year not issue practicing certificates to lawyers who have not complied with orders of the LSK Disciplinary Committee to pay penalties including fines or refunding clients’ money.

“There are 48 cases against lawyers pending execution with over Sh8 million remaining unpaid as fines and costs and Sh140 Million outstanding as clients monies,” Mboya said.

He said factors hindering execution of disciplinary orders include the fact that some of the advocates cannot be traced and/or lack of attachable assets..