Law Society of Kenya kicks out Aluoch over widow’s dues

BY ISAIAH LUCHELI

Kisumu Town West MP John Olago Aluoch has been struck off the roll of advocates over gross professional misconduct.

In the verdict by the Law Society of Kenya Disciplinary Tribunal found the MP guilty of withholding Sh700,000 damages paid to Milka Adhiambo Ojwang whose husband died in a road accident.

The tribunal, comprising Mr Ezekiel Wanjama, Ms Gladys Kinyanjui and Mr Ambrose Weda, found Mr Aluoch  guilty of professional misconduct and ordered him to pay the complainant the Sh700,000 plus interest.

The tribunal heard that after receiving the money on behalf of the widow, Aluoch issued her with two cheques totaling Sh27,000 that bounced in 2007 when she wanted to pay school fees for her son.

In reaching the decision, the tribunal observed that Aluoch was not a first offender as the MP had earlier been found guilty of failing to account for Sh924,000 he received, on behalf of a client, from United Insurance Company. The disciplinary arm of the LSK noted that Aluoch was an MP earning over Sh800,000 monthly and should have paid the widow but had failed to do so.

Politics and Malice

“We find the respondent (Aluoch) guilty of professional misconduct or conduct unbecoming of an advocate…we convict him accordingly,” Mr Wanjama said.

The MP, however, complained yesterday that the decision by LSK to kick him out of the bar was driven by politics and malice.

He said the complaint was made in 2007 and he settled it ‘amicably’ with his client in 2012. He added that he had gone to  the High Court to seek review of the decision.