LSK seeks to resolve Mau Mau dispute

Wambugu wa Nyingi (L), Jane Muthoni Mara (2L), Paulo Nzili (2R) and Ndiku Mutua (R) pose for photographers outside the High Court in central London. Three elderly Kenyans began a court battle on July 16, 2012 to win damages from the British government for brutality they claim they suffered at the hands of British troops during the 1950s Mau Mau uprising. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• According to LSK chief executive Apollo Mboya, there have been professional accusations and counter accusations among lawyers and law firms involved in the case both locally and in the UK.
• The war veterans moved to the High Court in Britain seeking compensation due to torture and other inhumane acts caused by officials and agents of the Colonial British Government.
• Reports in a section of the mainstream media have indicated that the British Government is seeking an out of court settlement with the former war veterans.

The Law Society of Kenya has set a date to resolve disputes involving lawyers representing over 8,000 former Mau Mau fighters at a UK Court.

According to LSK chief executive Apollo Mboya, there have been professional accusations and counter accusations among lawyers and law firms involved in the case both locally and in the UK.

“We have resolved to hear and determine the professional dispute on June 1 in Nairobi towards faster dispensation of justice to the former freedom fighters,” Mr Mboya said.

The war veterans moved to the High Court in Britain seeking compensation due to torture and other inhumane acts caused by officials and agents of the Colonial British Government.

Reports in a section of the mainstream media have indicated that the British Government is seeking an out of court settlement with the former war veterans.

Mr Mboya said LSK had received a series of confidential letters that some people masquerading as lawyers were paid legal fees towards the case.

“We want to set the record straight and have called for a meeting of all involved parties to establish the lawyers on record for which case and clients,” Mr Mboya said.

He said that the meeting will seek to establish the status of any suit or settlement being pursued on behalf of the former freedom fighters and respective roles of the parties in the matter,” Mr Mboya said.

The LSK Secretary/CEO said that there are also allegations of legal malpractices and misrepresentations involving local and British based lawyers and law firms.

“There are also impostors who allegedly pocketed over Sh170 million as part of legal fees to represent the ex-Mau Mau fighters,” Mr Mboya said.

He said that LSK had also received formal complaints from the Kenya Human Rights Commission concerning unethical practices and misrepresentation to the former freedom fighters.

“We are also in possession of letters from the then Ministry of Immigration stating that some persons involved in the case flew in from the UK and worked even without work permits,” he said.

He added that some of the companies involved in the case were not registered in line with the law.