Security agencies in Migori County have apprehended a woman purporting to be an advocate who was illegally offering legal services along the Kisii-Migori border.
Confirming the arrest on Wednesday, November 12, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Chairperson Kisii Chapter Davin Biyaki confirmed the arrest and said that security agencies had recovered fake stamps and seals of existing law firms.
According to Biyaki, the stamps and seals were being used without the knowledge of the relevant firms.
"Some rogue members of the public have been opening up shops and purport to be offering legal services. Some people have been approaching this rogue individual to seek legal services, and she stamped and signed some document, and she was paid," Biyaki said.
According to Rongo Sub-County Commander Salim Fundi, the 31-year-old fake lawyer will be charged with impersonation.
Fundi further affirmed that the police in the region will continue collaborating with the LSK to ensure that all fake advocates in the region and completely weeded out.
"People have been unknowingly approaching fake lawyers and seeking legal services. Police were able to arrest one woman, and she was charged with impersonation because he was using the name of another advocate to offer the services," Fundi said.
The arrest comes two weeks after security agencies in Kisii also nabbed three individuals who were also illegally offering legal services to members of the public.
According to Biyaki, the individuals were arrested on Tuesday, October 28, during a joint operation by LSK officials and the police.
Biyaki said that some of the suspects were operating from cyber cafes near the county offices, where they were offering clearance certificates for Kenyans seeking jobs at the county.
The three were carrying out duties such as certifying and stamping documents and commissioning Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) documents, according to the LSK official.
Following the raid, security agencies recovered court documents and an advocate’s stamp from the premises where the suspects were operating.
“This morning, we were called from the Kisii County Public Service Board. There have been complaints since the board advertised various positions that are supposed to be filled by the Kisii County government that there have been individuals masquerading and misleading members of the public that they were advocates,” Biyaki said.
