A man who is being faced with condemnation from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the country’s Director of Public Prosecutions after being accused of practising law without qualifications has said he is innocent.
It was gathered that legal officials in Kenya on Thursday charged police to arrest a man practicing under the name “Brian Mwenda”, alleging that the man was a “masquerader” who had stolen the identity of a real lawyer, named Brian Mwenda Ntwiga.
Local media reported that a “fake lawyer” had won dozens of lawsuits despite not being trained.
Despite condemnation by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the country’s Director of Public Prosecutions, the alleged imposter has gained several supporters.
Kenya’s Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has lauded him and tagged him as a “brilliant young mind” who has succeeded “without traditional qualifications”.
He has also been backed by Mike Sonko, the controversial former governor of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
A video posted by Mr Sonko on social media showed him saying the man standing next to him is the accused “fake lawyer”.
The man in the video, who appeared to be Mr Mwenda, said: “I would like to convey my gratitude to the people that are supporting me and praying for me… in the fullness of time I will be able to clear this misunderstanding.
“I will be also be able to provide my innocence and provide the actual context.”
He said he would go to a police station and provide officers with a statement “hopefully” on Monday or Tuesday.
Mr Sonko,further said those attacking the “fake lawyer” are “nincompoops”.
“He’s never killed anyone, he’s not a terrorist,”he said.
Notwithstanding this support, Kenya’s director of public prosecutions said “Mr Mwenda” faces prosecution.
In a statement on Saturday, Renson Mulele Ingonga wrote: “I have directed the Inspector General of the National Police Service to undertake expedited comprehensive investigations.”
Mr Ingonga said this case is not unique as he noticed “increased cases of unqualified persons… pretending to be Advocates of the High Court of Kenya”.
|BBC NEWS
