Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Eric Theuri has warned former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko over his association with Brian Mwenda, the alleged fake advocate.
Speaking to the press on Saturday, October 14, Theuri said that Mwenda was a fugitive from the law and that every Kenyan was obligated to cooperate with the police to bring the suspect to book.
Further, he affirmed that Sonko should have helped to present the suspect to any police station rather than his actions expressing his solidarity with him.
“Brian Mwenda is now a fugitive from the law. We have a moral obligation to effect arrest if the said masquerader is spotted anywhere in public,” Theuri noted.
“We wish to notify the former governor that he is aiding a fugitive from the law and that in itself is a criminal offense. If he does not produce the masquerader, we will be asking the police to take legal action on the former Governor.”
In a video shared on Friday, October 13, Sonko was seen with the suspect amid efforts by the LSK and security agencies to trace him.
To be presented on Monday
Sonko went on to assure Mwenda of his support and even hinted at facilitating his appearance at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to record a statement.
Further, the former Governor assured that he would help Mwenda in raising his bail in the vent of his arrest and sponsor him for a law course.
Also Read: Atwoli Declares Support for Brian Mwenda
In a subsequent post on Saturday, Sonko maintained his position that he would avail Mwenda on Monday.
“I still maintain that my future lawyer Brian Mwenda is innocent until proven guilty. Tuko na yeye huku Mombasani (We are here in Mombasa) until Monday when we shall present him to the DCI to record a statement,” he stated.
Sonko was one of the prominent Kenyans who vowed to support Mwenda and help him realize his aspirations of practicising law.
Nandi Senator Samson Cheragei also weighed in on the Mwenda debate stating that he was “willing to mentor and guide Brian to become the best legal practitioner and advocate of the high courts and commonwealth courts”.
Also Read: LSK President Clarifies Brian Mwenda Winning 26 Cases
LSK maintains stance
However, LSK was adamant that Mwenda committed a criminal offense in impersonating a duly registered advocate and masquerading as a lawyer to deceive unsuspecting clients.
In addition, Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo said that chances of Mwenda making it to the bar as an advocate were slim due his act of impersonating a lawyer.
“He can never be admitted as an Advocate of The High Court of Kenya, on account of prior impersonation,” Amollo stated.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions directed the National Police Service to expedite investigations into Mwenda’s case, noting that his office was alarmed by the rising number of impersonations.
