Mathare-Born Lawyer And Boxer Goes For Nairobi LSK Representative Position

• Shadrack Wambui is a trained boxer who overcame challenging slum life to become an Advocate of the High Court through support from well-wishers
• He is determined to lend a hand by helping people experiencing poverty who cannot afford lawyers by offering pro-bono services
• Wambui is eyeing the Law Society of Kenya Council's representative position for Nairobi and has prioritised addressing mental health gaps among lawyers

A Nairobi-based lawyer who rose from the slums of Mathare to become a formidable Advocate of the High Court of Kenya has now thrown his hat into the ring to become the next Nairobi representative to the Law Society Kenya (LSK) council.

Meet Kenyan lawyer who is a boxer

Shadrack Wambui Wambui, who sharpened his survival skills in the sprawling Bondeni, Mathare slums, told TUKO.co.ke that his main objective in seeking a position in the council was to champion the welfare of advocates by coming up with deliberate initiatives to combat mental health concerns among lawyers.

"Just like many in the public, a good number of advocates are battling serious cases of depression and stress. We have serious mental health concerns that are either trivialised or downplayed. I aim at championing the welfare of advocates by coming up with deliberate initiatives to combat mental health concerns among lawyers," he explained.

Wambui, an ardent boxer, says there should be a minimum wage for in-house advocates.

Minimum wage for in-house lawyers in Kenya

"Employers are taking advantage of the desperation of young advocates and paying them peanuts. If house-helps and watchmen have minimum wages, why not advocates? Every employer should be regulated by the law so that they adequately compensate young advocates for their professional services," he pointed out.

He is also concerned with the rising number of quacks who have invaded the profession and wants the LSK to take up the role of prosecuting masqueraders.

He says that quacks have invaded the practice space in Kenya.

Quack Lawyers in Kenya

"We are treated to arrests of the quacks, but we have never been informed of any conviction. I suggest that for accountability purposes, the LSK should take up the role of prosecuting quacks and masqueraders so that we are accountable to members of the profession and deliberate about weeding out quacks," Wambui observed.

Wambui, an ardent boxer, said he wants to be on the council to continue bridging the gap between the LSK and the community by providing legal aid to all those who need it.

"I desire to bridge the gap between the LSK and the community through legal aid provision, taking up pro bono cases, and taking up strategic public interest litigation. It is only then that we shall restore the trust that the community lost over lawyers. Otherwise, if the relationship between lawyers and the community is not promptly restored, advocates will continue to miss out on opportunities to leave a mark in society," he added.

Incidents of the rising number of quack lawyers have been a hot topic in Kenya since Brian Mwenda, a man who was masquerading as a lawyer, was arrested and charged in court.