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Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa now wants the bottlenecks impeding legal practitioners from acquiring a temporary license to practice in countries within the East African Community addressed.

In a statement on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Wamalwa argued that the struggle to obtain a temporary legal license was manifested when Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua sought to represent Uganda’s long-time opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, and his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale, in the General Court Martial.

Wamalwa called for the signing of a recognition agreement to allow the free movement of services as well as goods.

“Issuance of special practicing certificates to facilitate cross-border legal practice, however, should not be such a frustrating process after so many years of EAC integration where there should be free movement of People, goods and services including legal services,” Wamalwa’s statement read in part.

“It’s about time We pushed for the Fast tracking of the signing of the Mutual Recognition Agreements for Advocates qualification by EAC Memberc States and for passing of the necessary bills by the East African Bunge to streamline the legal framework and remove unnecessary bottlenecks for cross-border practice to avoid the frustration and embarrassment that Senior Counsel and former Minister for Justice of the Republic of Kenya Martha Karua and other lawyers in the region are going through,” it added.

Nonetheless, Wamalwa lauded Karua for her determination to represent Kizza Besigye and Lutale, who were detained for weeks after their abduction from Nairobi in November 2024.

The two are expected to be arraigned before the military court where Karua will lead a team of other lawyers in arguing the matter.

Hongera @MarthaKarua @LawSocietyofKe and @ug_lawsociety @ealawsociety @IsaacSsemakadde who made possible your clearance by the Law Council of Uganda to appear for your Client @kizzabesigye1 who was illegally abducted in Nairobi while attending your book launch and whose… pic.twitter.com/jXhZVkOWgG

— Eugene L. Wamalwa (@EugeneLWamalwa) January 7, 2025

Karua’s ordeal

Karua received the green light to practice law in the neighbouring after the Uganda Law Council (ULC) reversed its previous decision and granted a temporary practising certificate to a Kenyan senior advocate.

The Law Council initially denied Karua’s application, citing insufficient documentation and possible political implications.

According to the countries’ local dailies, the reversal of the decision came after significant pressure from legal professionals and human rights groups.

Besigye and Lutale were reportedly seized on November 16, 2024, during a visit to Nairobi for Karua’s book launch.