- Members of the public have been urged to verify auctioneers’ credentials before engaging them and report suspected imposters to the board or police.
The Auctioneers Licensing Board has called for urgent reforms to Kenya’s auctioneering laws, citing outdated legislation, rising operational costs, and persistent public misunderstanding of the profession.
Speaking during a regional workshop in Kisumu on Friday, July 3, 2026, the Board’s Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Festus Terer said the current legal framework no longer reflects modern realities and must be aligned with the 2010 Constitution and technological advancements. He noted that auctioneers remain at the tail end of the justice system, executing court orders, yet often face hostility and misrepresentation.
More than 300 licensed auctioneers from the region attended the capacity‑building forum, which focused on legal procedures, professionalism, and mental wellness in the execution of court orders.
The workshop also brought together Kisumu High Court Presiding Judge Alfred Mabeyala, county police commanders from Kisumu, Migori and Siaya, and other security officials, in what the board described as efforts to strengthen collaboration between law enforcement agencies and auctioneers.
Terer said one of the key concerns raised was the persistent misconception of auctioneers’ roles, with some members of the public and even police officers mistaking them for criminals while carrying out lawful duties. He cited cases where licensed auctioneers executing court orders had been arrested and charged after debtors reported property attachment as robbery.
“We want both the police and the public to understand that auctioneers execute court orders issued by the judiciary. Better coordination will help prevent unnecessary confrontations during the execution of warrants and attachment of property,” Terer said.
Participants also raised concerns over remuneration rules, which have remained unchanged since 2007 despite rising costs of operation. Terer said the board is reviewing the Auctioneers Act of 1996, arguing that several provisions need to be updated to reflect constitutional changes and the increasing use of digital technology in the justice sector. He added that reforms would introduce greater use of technology in auctioneering processes, review the regulatory framework, and address low fees charged by auctioneers.
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The CEO further encouraged auctioneers to pursue negotiated settlement plans between debtors and creditors where possible before resorting to property attachment and sale, saying such approaches would reduce conflicts while acknowledging financial difficulties faced by many debtors.
Terer expressed concern over imposters masquerading as licensed auctioneers, noting that the board had intensified inspections and was working closely with the Inspector General of Police to crack down on illegal operators. He revealed that a recent stakeholders’ conference in Nairobi brought together representatives from the Law Society of Kenya, insurers, banks, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and licensed auctioneers to discuss regulatory challenges and strengthen enforcement against imposters.
He urged members of the public to verify auctioneers’ credentials before engaging them and report suspected imposters to the board or police. He also cautioned against the use of hired goons during enforcement, warning that misconduct among licensed auctioneers would not be tolerated.
Police commanders present advised auctioneers to report to the nearest stations when executing orders outside their jurisdictions to avoid unnecessary confrontations.
By Fredrick Odiero
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