A feature documentary inspired by Kenya’s notorious “fake lawyer,” Brian Mwenda, is currently in development, promising to shed new light on one of the country’s most talked-about scandals. Titled The Lawyer, the film is directed by acclaimed Polish filmmaker Maciej Bochniak, known for HBO’s One Billion Happy People, Netflix’s Freestyle, and the Polish remake of The Office for Canal+.
The project is being produced by Madants, with co-financing from the Polish Film Institute. It was first unveiled at the Locarno Film Festival through the festival’s Locarno Pro – Match Me! networking initiative. In October, it was also selected for the Doc Co-production Market & Pitching Forum, a flagship event of Rome’s Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo (MIA) – a major platform connecting international producers, directors, and broadcasters.
In a statement shared with Business Doc Europe, Bochniak said he was immediately intrigued by Mwenda’s story, comparing it to the hit TV show Suits, where a gifted college dropout successfully impersonates a lawyer.
“Suits captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, making people wonder if such a thing could happen in real life. Then came Brian,” Bochniak said.
“Here was a young man who dared to challenge the system. Without the privileges of the elite who can afford higher education, Brian took matters into his own hands. Whether he acted like a secret agent or an actor preparing for a role, the outcome was nothing short of remarkable.”
According to the producer Kinga Tasarek, The Lawyer is a thrilling combination of true-crime thriller, courtroom drama, and moral investigation.
“The Lawyer tells a story so unbelievable it could be fiction, yet it’s entirely true,” Tasarek told Business Doc Europe.
“It combines elements of crime thriller, courtroom drama, and moral inquiry, following a self-taught Kenyan ‘lawyer’ whose actions exposed deep flaws in the justice system. Through Mwenda’s case, we explore ambition, deception, and the fine line between truth and performance.”
Tasarek said the film hopes to transcend borders and asks universal questions about truth, ambitions, and authenticity, in a moment when “real life often outpaces fiction.”
Mwenda hit international headlines in 2023 when reports emerged that he had practiced law for over a year without formal qualifications, reportedly using forged credentials to gain admission to the bar. Some outlets even claimed he had won 26 cases at the High Court, claims that were quickly debunked.
As of November 2025, Mwenda faces multiple criminal charges, including identity theft and forgery, as courts continue to deliberate his case.
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