MCA SEEKS INFO ON QUACK LAWYERS FIASCO IN EMBU COUNTY STAFF AUDIT
The County Assembly of Embu has demanded answers to allegations that the County Government hired quack advocates to commission and certify staff documents during a recent human resource management audit.
Kiambere MCA Lenny Masters sought information from the County Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee about lawyers contracted by the County Chief Officer in charge of Medical Services Jane Karimi and who were later exposed by members of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) as an impostors.
In the statement sought on his behalf by Makima MCA Phillip Nzangi, Masters revealed that the charges indicated for commissioning and certifying documents were in breach of the Advocates Act CAP 16 of the Laws of Kenya and the Advocates Remuneration Order, 2014.
The MCA now wants an explanation on whether or not the Chief Officer petitioned the Office of the County Attoney for an advisory on the matter and if she verified whether the said Commissioners of Oaths were in the panel of advocates prequalified by the County Government.
The Statement also questions whether the Chief Officer exercised due diligence to satisfy herself that the advocates in question were duly certified to practice law by LSK before engaging them in the crucial county staff verification process.
What action did the County Government take on the documents certified or commissioned by the said advocate. Is the Chief Officer being investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) or has she been charged in a court of law for irregularly contracting the said advocates.
Masters also seeks to establish whether the engagement of the purported advocates has adversely affected the relationship between the County Government and LSK. The report on this matter is expected to be tabled in the House within the next 21 days.
Similarly, on behalf of Evurore MCA Duncan Mbui, Nzangi also sought another Statement from the Committee on Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development on whether the County Executive is aware that parcels of land earmarked for Ishiara public cemetery and dumpsite have been grabbed.
Mbui wants the County Assembly furnished with a report of disclosure of the measures taken to urgently reclaim the grabbed land and prevent further encroachment and other illegal activities being undertaken on the said pieces of land.
Deputy Speaker Ibrahim Swaleh dismissed assertions by Lands Committee Chairman Barnabas Njama that the County Executive Committee Member was unaware of the grabbing and gave him 30 days to table a comprehensive report.
