COTU Defends Fake Lawyer Brian Mwenda Njagi as LSK Urges DCI to Arrest Him

The Law Society of Kenya has called on the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to apprehend a man who has been posing as a lawyer and advocating for clients in court.

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) has taken a stance against the allegations aimed at Brian Mwenda Njagi, asserting that he ought not to be condemned for practicing law without the typical qualifications and license. LSK President Eric Theuri says that their initial investigations suggest that Njagi used the credentials of a lawyer employed by the Attorney General's office to gain access to the LSK portal. From there, he took control, altered his picture and workplace details, and proceeded to apply for a practicing certificate. After discovering Njagi's deceitful actions, the LSK Council urgently convened a meeting to address the matter.

LSK asserts that Njagi gained unauthorized access to the system by using the login details of Brian Mwenda Ntwiga, a fellow State employee at the State Law Office. However, Ntwiga did not apply for a practicing certificate due to his profession as a State officer. In fact, the same story has been corroborated by Ntwiga who says that he had no need to obtain a practicing certificate since entry at the AG's office in 2022.

Theuri reveals that Njagi had used a well-known international fraud scheme called Business Email Compromise to locate the inactive account of Ntwiga and use it for his own registration. Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli has stepped forward to show his unreserved support for Njagi in his quest to become a fully-fledged lawyer. He has lauded him as a gifted and deserving young Kenyan. Atwoli has pledged to lend his full weight to Njagi's career aspirations. He also calls on the government to seize this opportunity to implement Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), a proven method of acknowledging the various learning paths taken by Kenyans.

According to Atwoli, if it is indeed true that Njagi has been practicing law and effectively representing clients in legal matters, his knowledge, skills, and abilities in the field should not be disregarded. The trade unionist emphasizes that Kenya is home to a plethora of highly skilled and talented young individuals who have acquired their expertise through practical experience, self-study, and non-traditional educational avenues.