LSK expresses concern over foreign law firms

PHOTO | CARL COURT | FILE In this file picture taken on April 7, 2011 Kenyan nationals Wambugu wa Nyingi, (L) Jane Muthoni Mara, (2nd L) Paulo Nzili (2nd R) and Ndiku Mutua (R) pose for photographers outside the High Court in central London. The Law Society of Kenya has expressed concern over foreign advocates taking up monumental cases without following the due process of accreditation.  AFP

By WALTER MENYA wmenya@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, June 15   2013 at  16:21

Kenyan lawyers are concerned over foreign advocates taking up monumental cases without following the due process of accreditation.

Law Society of Kenya CEO Apollo Mboya expressed shock at comments attributed to Mr Martyn Day, a Senior Partner of Leigh Day & Company, a British law firm, in a story published on the Nation website asking the Director of Public Prosecution Mr Keriako Tobiko to undertake fresh investigations into allegations that Kenyan women were raped by British soldiers.

According to Mr Mboya, LSK was neither aware that the law firm was undertaking such a case nor had it granted it any authorisation to do so.

“The Law Society of Kenya is getting increasing concerned over the influx of foreign lawyers who purport to be representing the Kenyan nationals without going through the laid down procedure,” Mr Mboya said on Saturday.

“We would like him to furnish us with the details of the victims whom they are acting for, the compensation they are pursuing on their behalf if any and the letters of instructions from the clients,” Mr Mboya said.

Leigh Day was involved in the landmark case that saw the British government compensate victims of torture under the colonial administration. The compensation package amounted to Sh2.6 billion and was accompanied by a statement from Foreign Secretary William Hague offering Britain's "sincere regrets" for the abuses.