The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has expressed his support for Brian Mwenda, who has been accused of practising law without the traditional law qualifications.
Mwenda was flagged by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which accused him of representing clients in Kenyan courts without prerequisite qualifications to become an advocate of the High Court.
According to LSK, Mwenda is neither an advocate of the High Court, nor is he a member of the law body and has been using another lawyer's identity to practice law.
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However, according to Atwoli, Mwenda's impressive win rate in litigation should grant him a place in the legal profession.
"COTU (K) firmly believes in the principle of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which acknowledges and values the knowledge, skills, and competencies individuals have acquired through non-traditional learning pathways," Atwoli stated.
"The case of Brian Njagi raises critical questions about the accessibility and inclusivity of professions in Kenya. If, indeed, it's true that Brian has been practising law and successfully representing clients in legal matters, we strongly advocate for a fair and transparent examination to test his knowledge, skills, and competencies in the field of law."
LSK on Mwenda
On Friday, October 13, 2023, LSK President Eric Theuri accused Mwenda of stealing the identity of Brian Mwenda Ntwiga through a fraud scheme known as Business Email Compromise (BEC).
"We have invited the DCI to send their investigators to launch a massive manhunt and the immediate arrest of the masquerader, (Brian Mwenda) and all his accomplices," Theuri said.
Atwoli on his side has called on the government to actualize the Recognition of Prior Learning in order to give opportunities to skilled Kenyans who have not gone through the traditional schooling methods.
"I know of many great engineers, accountants, teachers, IT experts, cybersecurity experts, social workers, creatives, footballers, farmers, immigrants, plumbers, carpenters, and paramedics who are specialists in their areas of interest yet without any paper to show their qualifications. While some of them persevere the pains of being in a classroom to be taught what they already know, the majority don’t and thus end up being discriminated against," Atwoli said.
