Joel Mutuma, the chairperson of LSK in Mt. Kenya region, addressing journalists during a sports event in Kirinyaga countyKenyans have been urged to ensure they confirm the eligibility of lawyers before contracting them to represent them in court.
The chairperson of Law Society of Kenya in Mt Kenya region Joel Mutuma said the sector has been infiltrated by quacks who present themselves as professionals and swindle Kenyans of their hard-earned money.
The quacks, he noted, interfere with the smooth execution of cases and see many locked out of their rightful inheritance in succession cases. But he said Kenyans can help weed them out by ensuring they confirm the status of a lawyer before paying them for representation.
“One can go the LSK portal and proceed to the advocates search engine where they can type the name of the lawyer and establish if they’re active or inactive. If their names don’t appear, then you know you’re dealing with a quack.”
He said LSK has intensified its crackdown on quack lawyers in the last few years, leading to the arrest of several suspects.
In 2023, police officers arrested a fraudulent lawyer operating in Maragua town, Murang’a, with local LSK officials confirming that the woman was caught impersonating a commissioner of oaths.
In the same year, 10 people were arraigned in Nanyuki law courts for masquerading as lawyers and setting up offices where unsuspecting residents consulted them for legal services.
Lawyers from the Mt. Kenya region engaging in sports in Kirinyaga CountyLast year, another suspect masquerading as an advocate was detained in Nakuru town and over 100 title deeds found in his office.
But Mutuma said the quacks can only be totally eliminated if Kenyans are sensitised enough to stop offering them work.
He spoke during the regional LSK sports event that brings together practitioners from eight counties, including Isiolo, Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Laikipia and Nyeri.
The event is held twice a year, he said, and enhances integration amongst the lawyers and gives them a platform to interact and forge unity in their work.
“As lawyers, we face many hurdles in our work and also need time to unwind and come together. In this event, we engage in sports and later eat together and get to know each other,” he said.
He also urged lawyers to ensure they renew their annual licenses in time and supply them to the courts they serve to ensure court workers know they are professionals.
“Any lawyer who is new to an area must ensure they register with the local LSK chapter. This helps to distinguish the legitimate professionals from the quacks,” he added.
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