Kenyans are unsettled by the recent revelations made by the Law society of Kenya (LSK) concerning a man named Brian Mwenda Njagi who has been masquerading as an advocate.
This follows a statement by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Nairobi branch on October 13, revealing that Mwenda was not an advocate of the High Court.
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Further, LSK stated that Mwenda had been presenting himself as a member of the society duping unsuspecting Kenyans.
“The Branch wishes to notify all members of the society and of the public that Brian Mwenda Njagi is not an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, from the Society’s records, nor is he a member of the Branch.
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“It has been brought to the attention of the LSK Nairobi Branch through the Rapid Action Team (RAT), the person has been presenting and conducting himself as an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya,” the statement read in part.
Who then is Brian Mwenda?
After the revelation, information surfaced that Mwenda had been serving as an advocate of the High Court for three years undetected.
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Is Brian even his real name? Who is he? What is his real profession?
These are the questions many want answered by LSK but there seem to be more questions than answers.
According to the Kenya Universities Students’ Organization (KUSO) a deep dive into the life of Mwenda revealed that he was a second-year student at Chuka University.
Further, KUSO stated that Mwenda was studying Criminology at the institution.
“KUSO has established, allegedly, that he is a Second-Year comrade from Chuka University Pursuing Criminology,” stated KUSO.
Also Read: LSK Questions Move By DPP To Drop High Profile Cases
How was he able to practice undetected?
If he was only a second-year student, then how did Mwenda practice law with well-established lawyers and advocates undetected
Other members of LSK have revealed that Mwenda took over the identity of another credible advocate.
Abdi Wakil who claimed that he is an advocate of the High Court, added that the man had struggled to earn his degree.
Additionally, he stated that while doing a Council of Legal Education (CLE) exam at the University of Nairobi, he was on crutches and had a plaster cast on his leg.
How Many Cases did he Prosecute?
Additional reports, which The Kenya Times could not independently verify, indicated that the fake advocate prosecuted and won 26 cases before the High Court of Kenya.
Were there no red flags? Should Kenyans question the competency and ability of the lawyers he won against?
A video of Brian in court resurfaced. He is depicted addressing the High Court at the Milimani Law courts, during a past hearing of reformed Mungiki leader Maina Njenga.
At the same time, he is well spoken and knows all the jargon so many have opined that there was no way he could have been easily singled out.
Also Read: Maina Njenga Finally Arraigned in Court
Is LSK Hunt for Fake Advocates Just for Show
Between February and June 2023, LSK in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) conducted several raids, arresting fake advocates across the country.
President of the Law Society of Kenya, Eric Theuri, confirmed that the operation to arrest fake lawyers had been rolled out across the country but began in the Mount Kenya region.
Moreover, images have surfaced of members of the Law Society of Kenya including Eric Theuri posing for a photo with Mwenda.
What will his punishment be?
Section 313 of the Penal Code provides that “Any person who by any false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtains from any other person anything capable of being stolen, or induces any other person to deliver to any person anything capable of being stolen, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for three years.”
Notably, LSK has not issued the next course of action.
