The extraordinary story of Brian Mwenda Njagi — the Kenyan man accused of practicing law without a valid license — is set to be retold on film in a new documentary titled The Lawyer. The project, currently in development, promises to explore one of the most controversial and captivating legal sagas in recent Kenyan history — a tale that blurs the lines between deception, brilliance, and the fragility of institutional systems.
Directed by acclaimed Polish filmmaker Maciej Bochniak and produced by Madants, a Polish production company, The Lawyer is co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. It was presented this year at the Locarno Film Festival’s “Match Me!” professional networking initiative and selected for the MIA Doc Co-Production Market in Rome — strong indicators that the story has captured international curiosity well beyond Kenya’s borders.
In late 2023, Kenya’s legal fraternity was shaken by news that a man had allegedly infiltrated the Law Society of Kenya’s (LSK) database and assumed the identity of a real advocate, Brian Mwenda Ntwiga. According to the LSK, Mwenda used the legitimate lawyer’s profile in the digital portal, altering key details such as the profile photo, employer, and contact information. He then allegedly presented forged documents — including a certificate of admission to the bar and a practising license bearing the signature of a former Chief Justice who had long passed away.
The revelation was shocking, not least because Mwenda was said to have represented clients in Kenyan courts, even claiming to have won several cases. Though the figure of remains unverified, the suggestion that an unqualified man could argue successfully before magistrates captured the public imagination. The story sparked debate not only about the security of Kenya’s legal systems, but also about talent, access, and inequality in a profession often seen as elite and exclusive.
In The Lawyer, director Maciej Bochniak seeks to go beyond the headlines. Early production notes indicate the film will blend investigative journalism, courtroom drama, and social commentary. It aims to unpack how Mwenda’s alleged deception unfolded, why it worked for so long, and what it reveals about society’s obsession with credentials and authority.
The documentary will trace Mwenda’s journey from obscurity to notoriety — examining his background, his motivations, and the public reactions that turned him from a criminal suspect into an unlikely folk hero for some Kenyans. It will also feature perspectives from legal professionals, cybersecurity experts, and social commentators to piece together how one man’s actions exposed deep vulnerabilities in the country’s justice system.
The Lawyer is described as a “true-crime documentary with philosophical undertones.” Rather than focusing solely on the allegations, it will raise broader questions: Who decides what makes a professional legitimate — the paper credentials or the ability to perform? What does the case reveal about social mobility and gatekeeping in modern Kenya? And why did so many people, even after his arrest, continue to defend Mwenda as a misunderstood genius rather than a fraudster?
When Mwenda was first arrested, reactions were polarized. On social media, many Kenyans applauded his intelligence and boldness, framing him as a modern-day Robin Hood of the courtroom. Others, particularly within the legal community, warned that such impersonation undermines the integrity of justice and could endanger clients’ lives. Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko famously offered to sponsor Mwenda’s legal education abroad, insisting he deserved “a second chance.”
This public divide — between admiration and outrage — will form a key emotional thread in The Lawyer. The film intends to show how the media spectacle around Mwenda reflected deeper societal tensions: between the privileged and the struggling, between the credentialed elite and the self-taught hustler.
While Mwenda continues to face criminal charges including forgery and identity theft, his case has already become a touchstone for conversations about ethics and opportunity. His courtroom appearances, often marked by composure and eloquence, only added to the intrigue. Whether viewed as a fraud or a prodigy, his story contains every element of a cinematic drama: ambition, deception, irony, and a legal system forced to confront its own blind spots.
For director Bochniak, whose previous work often examines moral ambiguity and human fallibility, the Mwenda saga offers fertile ground. “It is a story about ambition and performance,” he noted in preliminary remarks shared during a film-industry forum. “Brian Mwenda’s case raises universal questions about truth — how we construct it, and how easily it can be performed.”