Lawyer Cliff Ombeta is being investigated for practising law in 2021 and 2022 without being licensed, the Law Society of Kenya has disclosed.
In a statement clarifying why Ombeta's status for 2023 changed to active despite indicating earlier that it was inactive, LSK CEO Florence Muturi said Ombeta followed all legal channels to have his active status back for the year 2023.
LSK members are required to seek the active status of practising law every year. It is illegal for one to practise without being licensed.
Though society says Ombeta is legally mandated to practice law for this year, Muturi said they are probing allegations of practising law for two years without being licensed.
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"We note that there are allegations of the advocate (Ombeta) having practised without a practising certificate for the first part of the year and as far back as last year. The allegations are being investigated and when sufficient evidence is collected, a formal complaint against the advocate will be lodged with the Advocates Disciplinary Tribunal," Muturi said in a statement.
Allegations of Ombeta practising law without being licensed emerged after he took up the role of acting for Pastor Ezekiel Odero.
Ombeta dismissed the allegations saying the claims emerged to block him from acting for the preacher.