A family from Tongaren in Bungoma County is struggling to cope with pain, loss, and financial hardship after allegedly being conned by a lawyer following the death of their relative in a road accident earlier this year.
The family says the ordeal began after Job Simiyu Wafula died in a fatal road accident in Kirinyaga County on January 24, 2026.
As they searched for legal help to pursue compensation, they were introduced to Hudson Sitati Wamukota, who claimed he would successfully handle the case and secure them at least Ksh20 million in compensation.
According to the family, Wamukota, who operated under the name Hudson Sitati & Company Advocates, convinced them to keep sending money to facilitate the case.
Over a period of about two months, the family reportedly paid him more than Ksh1.5 million.
However, the family later discovered that there was no formal agreement, no signed client brief, and no proper fee arrangement as required under the law.
They claim the promises they were given never materialised and that the lawyer failed to provide clear accountability for the money received.
The matter took a tragic turn when Esther Naliaka, the wife of David Wanjala Siundu, reportedly developed hypertension in April after learning that the family had allegedly been defrauded.
She died on Wednesday morning, leaving relatives devastated and blaming the stress caused by the financial loss for worsening her condition.
Her body is currently lying at Kiminini Hospital mortuary as the family continues to struggle emotionally and financially. Relatives say their small shop business, which was their main source of income, has also collapsed after much of the stock was sold to raise money for the legal process.
The family further claims that Wamukota later admitted receiving the money but has only offered explanations instead of refunding the funds.
Complaints filed before the Advocates Complaints Commission and the Law Society of Kenya have reportedly not been resolved, something the family says has deepened their frustration.
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) has now stepped in and says it will pursue accountability through legal and constitutional channels.
COFEK lawyers have since taken over the fatal accident case in Kerugoya as the family hopes for justice after months of grief and uncertainty.
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