LSK cracking down on quacks masquerading as advocates

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) says it has launched a crackdown on lawyers operating in the country without practising certificates.

LSK President Eric Theuri announced the countrywide crackdown on “quacks” on Tuesday, saying they are working with the National Police Service and the Office of The Director of Public Prosecutions.

“We've received several complaints from members of the public by people masquerading as advocates. This is a campaign that will be carried out countrywide,” Theuri told journalists.

The law society singled out lawyer Cliff Ombeta, whom it accused of practising without a permit. LSK said it has already sent a warning letter to the controversial city lawyer.

“We have done a letter to Cliff Ombeta for practising without a practising certificate. He has been appearing in court without a practising certificate,” Theuri said.

He added: “We urge our trained colleagues to desist from practising until they've attained a practising certificate. If they do, we will object to their admission to the bar when the time comes.”

“It was noted that on the advocates’ search engine, the advocate had appeared as ‘inactive’ and therefore not holding a current practising certificate for the year 2023 yet he has been reported to be actively representing clients and taking instructions. The advocate’s status was on May 2, 2023, updated to ‘active’ thus raising various issues and accusations the society has colluded with the advocate to change his status,” LSK responded to the public concerns then. 

In 2019, LSK also withdrew Ombeta’s practising certificate, saying he did not have enough points to practice as a lawyer.

LSK said Ombeta, who at the time handling the murder trial of slain lawyer Willy Kimani, was unqualified to be before the court.