The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) said it had shut down Rashid & Rashid in South Wimbledon, Kingswright Solicitors in Birmingham and Lincoln Lawrence in Hounslow following the undercover operation by the Daily Mail. 

The newspaper reported that numerous solicitors agreed to help an undercover reporter posing as an economic migrant to submit a false asylum application in exchange for thousands of pounds.

The SRA is an independent regulatory body for solicitors in England and Wales. Its rules prevent lawyers from misleading courts, and acting dishonestly or with a lack of integrity could see someone struck off.

In a statement, the SRA said: "We have closed down three solicitor firms that were named in a Daily Mail undercover operation involving immigration services.

"These firms are Rashid & Rashid in South Wimbledon, Kingswright Solicitors Birmingham, and Lincoln Lawrence in Hounslow."

The watchdog said its intervention meant it had stopped the firms from operating, had taken possession of all documents and papers held by the companies and had seized all money in its possession, including clients' money.

The practising certificates of the following solicitors have been automatically suspended so they cannot practice as a solicitor, the regulator added.

The SRA said its "interventions can be challenged at the High Court" but "if that challenge is not successful, intervened firms remain closed, they do not re-open".

Sky News approached the three law firms in question but did not receive a response to requests for comment.

The SRA's intervention was welcomed by Home Secretary Suella Braverman who tweeted: "Immigration lawyers who cheat and lie are taking the British public for a ride. Good to see this quick action by the SRA."

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick echoed her words, saying: "Immigration lawyers who cheat the system must be struck off. Good to see the first of what needs to be many more actions by @sra_solicitors."

The SRA investigation was launched after the government wrote to the watchdog to say the "full force of sanctions" should be employed in the wake of the Daily Mail investigation.

Justice Secretary Alex Chalk also called for a follow-up to the review the body carried out on immigration advice last year - highlighting the importance of "ensuring public confidence in our immigration system".

The SRA's immigration and asylum thematic review found the overall quality was satisfactory and there were no widespread or systemic failings or issues with quality. By Alexandra Rogers, Sky News

Over 60 terrorists affiliated with the al-Shabaab terror group from Somalia on Tuesday targeted civilians in Kenya’s Lamu County, killing two and injuring at least 10 others.

In a statement on Tuesday, Kenya's Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki confirmed the attack on the busy Garsen-Witu-Lamu Highway in Lamu County, approximately 241 kilometers (150 miles) northeast of the capital Nairobi, saying two travelers were killed and 10 others injured who were taken to the hospital.

The Kenyan government official noted that a combined security operation is underway to deal with the terrorists and locate “missing civilians.”

According to authorities, the tragic assault unfolded in the Nyongoro area of Lamu County, where the terrorists carried out a meticulously planned attack on unsuspecting civilians.

A swift response from different security forces, including the Kenya defense forces and the police, helped contain the situation and prevent further loss of life, the official said, adding that the authorities pursued the militants who fled towards the porous Kenya-Somali border.

Al-Shabaab, a terrorist group based in neighboring Somalia, has been known to target Kenya.

Their first major attack on Kenyan soil was in 2011, and since then, the East African nation has faced several acts of terrorism from the extremist group.

One of the deadliest attacks occurred in April 2015 when al-Shabaab gunmen stormed Garissa University College, killing more than 140 students. - Andrew Wasike, Anadolu Agency

Azimio La Umoja Coalition has appointed a five member delegation team led by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka to engage in dialogue with their counterparts in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance Coalition.

The Musyoka-led team will include Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi, Malindi MP Amina Mnyanzi, Democratic Action Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa and Nyamira Senator Okongo Omogeni respectively.

This comes after former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo brokered a pact between President Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga to facilitate a ten-member team to hold talks aimed at ending the social, economic and political situation facing Kenyans.

In a statement, the Opposition Coalition stated that the team will be required to engage in dialogue on four thematic areas which include ways to lower the escalating cost of life and the audit of 2022 presidential elections.

Others include the bipartisan reconstitution of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Inclusivity in national affairs and respect for political parties in line with the Constitution.

“Our position remains that no party to these negotiations can claim a right to determine for the other what to raise and what not to raise. Azimio will respect Kenya Kwanza’s right to bring all its issues to the table. We expect Kenya Kwanza to do the same with our issues,” the statement read.

The President William Ruto bandwagon is yet to appoint a team to represent them in the deliberations aimed at unlocking the stalemate between the two opposing sides with Azimio indicating that the talks should begin tomorrow.

Both sides were required to appoint a five member team; two Members of Parliament, two members from outside Parliament and the leader of the parliamentary leadership. By Irene Mwangi, Capital News