An unusual scene played out at the Kisii Law Courts on Thursday, October 30, as authorities intensified a crackdown on imposters posing as lawyers in the county. The incident occurred during a plea hearing for three suspects arrested in Kisii town for allegedly masquerading as advocates and offering legal services to unsuspecting clients from local cybercafés.
In a surprising turn of events, one of the accused appeared in court represented by Peter Ngeri Ouma, who himself turned out to be an unqualified advocate. During exchanges with the prosecution, Ouma admitted that he did not possess a valid Certificate of Practice, claiming only to have applied for one.
The revelation prompted Senior Principal Magistrate Omwansa Benard to order Ouma’s immediate removal from the courtroom. The magistrate directed police officers present to detain him for questioning and record a statement regarding his unauthorized legal representation.
“You can take care of him as he records a statement and the investigations follow. In other words, you don’t have an audience without the certificate,” ruled Magistrate Omwansa.
Following the incident, the three accused individuals were released on a Ksh. 50,000 bond each, with the case scheduled for mention on November 13, 2025.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Kisii Branch, which is working alongside law enforcement in the ongoing operation, vowed to sustain the crackdown until all fake advocates are identified and prosecuted.
“We are appealing to the public to remain vigilant. These imposters are not only operating from cybercafés but are also collecting money and tarnishing the image of legitimate legal practitioners,” said the LSK in a statement.
The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over fraudulent legal practitioners exploiting unsuspecting clients in various parts of the country, with authorities pledging tougher action against offenders.
