This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
Published on November 9, 2019, the issue of quack lawyers in Kisumu has raised concerns among the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the courts. Investigations by the Saturday Standard revealed that these individuals, who appear to be qualified lawyers, target vulnerable clients at the Kisumu law courts.
They often dress smartly, carry case files, and approach clients who have relatives charged in court, offering them legal counsel. However, after pocketing the initial fees for opening a file, they disappear, leaving their clients with no legal representation.
One such case was reported in September, where a man was charged with impersonating a lawyer and swindling clients of thousands of shillings. The LSK directed its members not to represent the suspect, who allegedly used the name of a law firm to swindle two clients of Sh1 million.
A lawyer who wished to remain anonymous told the Saturday Standard that some of these quack lawyers are dropouts from the Kenya School of Law. They claim to work for non-existent law firms and are always within the court corridors, tarnishing the name of qualified lawyers who took an oath to represent clients with zeal.
The Judiciary has raised the alarm over this issue, warning the public not to be duped by quack lawyers. Participants at the Court Users Committee forum urged the public to verify the list of lawyers from the LSK website before seeking their services.
Justice Fred Ochieng emphasized the importance of verifying a lawyer's credentials, stating that every lawyer is obliged by law to have a physical office, letterhead, and an official telephone number. He urged the public to volunteer information about quack lawyers to relevant authorities, promising that the police are working to bring them to book.
