The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) has backed the ruling by the Nakuru High Court, suspending government institutions from contracting private advocates and law firms, terming it a waste of public resources.
In a statement dated Wednesday January 14, 2026, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli stated that it was inappropriate for public entities to engage private legal services while qualified in-house counsel are available.
“COTU (K) welcomes and fully supports the conservatory orders issued by the High Court of Kenya at Nakuru suspending the engagement, procurement, and payment of private advocates and law firms by public entities where in-house legal officers already exist,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli maintained that outsourcing of legal services by public institutions amount to governance failure, waste of public resources, demoralization of in-house lawyers, and a direct threat to the sustainability of public institutions.
The COTU boss further decried of the billions of shillings spent on private legal firms, terming it a misuse of taxpayers’ money.
“Billions of Kenyan shillings have been sunk into private law firms that continue to issue outrageous fee notes to public institutions financed by taxpayer’s money, even as working conditions, collective bargaining agreements, pensions, and service delivery continue being affected,” he said.
He claimed that the fees payable to outsourced legal services exceed costs of development and salaries paid to workers in many institutions. He warned that private law firms have become means for corruption exploited by public institutions.
Atwoli stated that COTU have consistently opposed the outsourcing of services because it has resulted in job insecurity and demoralization of workers.
According to him, the continued outsourcing of lawyers has left many public institutions financially weakened and workers exposed to delayed salaries, underfunded social protection, and deteriorating public services.
He urged public institutions to seek assistance at the Office of Attorney General, County Attorneys and other government legal officers, while handling cases they do not have the capacity to manage.
“Where public institutions don’t have capacity to handle certain cases, such matters should be forwarded to the office of the Attorney General for action,” Atwoli said, adding that the offices have well trained professionals employed to serve public entities and secure public interest.
