Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli has come to the defence of Brian Njagi, a man who has gone viral on social media on allegations of practising law and winning cases without having the requisite training.
Atwoli in a Statement on the X platform said Brian's case is a representation of hundreds of Kenyans who are skilled, but because of a lack of academic papers have not had an opportunity to serve the nation in an area of their specialization.
"The case of Brian Njagi raises critical questions about the accessibility and inclusivity of professions in Kenya," the Cotu SG said.
"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."
The Cotu boss said Brian's case is a wake-up all to the government to consider Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as a key item of priority.
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RPL is a proven mechanism for recognizing the diverse learning pathways of our citizens and for harnessing the untapped talents that can drive our nation forward.
"COTU (K) acknowledges that Kenya is home to a multitude of highly skilled and talented youth who have acquired their expertise through practical experience, self-study, and non-formal educational avenues," Atwoli noted.
"These individuals, despite their outstanding abilities, often find themselves excluded from opportunities in the formal sector because the system typically prioritizes qualifications from traditional learning pathways."
Atwoli went on to say that they are ready to support Brian in ensuring that his dream of practising law is realized.
"As a seasoned labour leader, I can speak authoritatively that Brian’s case is not unique. 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," Atwoli noted.
"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."
