The Law Society of Kenya – Nairobi Branch – on Monday, October 16, caused the arrest of a woman masquerading as an advocate of the High Court.
In a statement, LSK said the woman had also stolen someone’s identity and was running a law firm illegally.
Sharon Atieno Adunya, alias Sharon Atieno Adunya Obade, was nabbed by the Rapid Action Team (R.A.T) in conjunction with police officers from Capitol Hill Station and in the presence of LSK President Eric Theuri.
“This afternoon, together with the Nairobi Branch Rapid Response Team, we caused the arrest of Sharon Adunya Atieno, who had impersonated one of our Advocates and was using the alias Sharon Atieno Adunya Obade,” said Theuri in a statement.
According to the LSK president, the suspect had stolen the identity of Sharon Atieno Obade and had forged a national identity bearing the alias and fake practicing certificate to aid her illegal enterprise.
“It’s unfortunate that the masquerader is a student at the Kenya School of Law who is yet to complete her studies to qualify for admission to the bar,” he added.
She is being held at Capitol Police Station pending investigations and arraignment in Court.
Her arrest comes less than a week after the arrest of Brian Mwenda, who was accused of masquerading as a lawyer in Kenya without a license.
He is also suspected to have stolen the identity of Brian Mwenda Ntwiga.
LSK’s Nairobi Branch blew Mwenda’s cover after representing a number of clients in court.
According to Theuri, Mwenda stole the identity of Ntwiga through a fraud scheme known as Business Email Compromise (BEC).
The matter is now under investigation by the police after it emerged that the much-talked-about ‘lawyer’ could have been a masquerader.
The man appeared to love his job as he presented himself on behalf of many litigants and represented them.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Renson Ingonga has directed the Inspector General of Police to investigate the matter and bring charges against him if found culpable.
Mwenda is said to have appeared in court several times and represented accused persons, presenting himself as an advocate of the High Court.
He was present when former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga and others appeared before a Makadara court and argued for one of the accused persons.
A photo that has been doing rounds on social media shows him welcoming a new judicial officer at Thika Law Courts alongside other members of the Bar.
After his arrest, former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko offered to bail him out and sponsor him in law school if he does not have money.
