Francis Atwoli, the Secretary General of COTU, declined to offer an apology to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) regarding his support for Brian Mwenda Ngagi, who is accused of practicing law without the required qualifications and credentials.
Atwoli’s response was in reaction to LSK President Eric Theuri’s request for a swift apology and the retraction of his endorsement of Mwenda.

 

Through a message on his social media profile, Atwoli conveyed his firm position without any willingness to compromise.
“I am not prepared, willing and available to issue any apology or withdraw my support for Brian Mwenda and calls for Recognition of Prior Learning in the field of Law,” he affirmed.
Nonetheless, Atwoli has redirected attention toward the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and has requested that they organize an urgent gathering of the LSK Council. He has urged them to publicly report the measures they have taken to rectify unscrupulous behavior within the legal profession.
“Considering many lawyers have made this an issue of ethical values and virtues of the profession, I would like to call upon the LSK President to equally convene an emergency meeting of the LSK Council and report to the general public what they have done or they are doing to handle some rogue members of the LSK who continue to swindle Kenyans millions upon millions,” he asserted.
Atwoli’s statement has triggered a discussion about the recognition of prior learning (RPL) within the legal field. RPL is a process enabling individuals to have their expertise and knowledge acquired outside of formal education acknowledged and officially approved.
Atwoli contends that RPL serves as an essential tool to tackle the shortage of lawyers in Kenya and provides an opportunity for skilled individuals who might not have attended law school to contribute to the legal domain.
However, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) opposes RPL, asserting that it could undermine the quality of legal services and result in the admission of unqualified individuals into the profession.
The ongoing debate regarding RPL in the legal sector is expected to persist, with Atwoli’s statement rekindling the conversation. Whether the LSK will hold an emergency meeting to address this matter remains uncertain.