LSK Demands Justice for Victims of Recent Extrajudicial Killings in Kenya
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has expressed grave concern over the recent surge in extrajudicial killings and involuntary deaths in the country, vehemently condemning these heinous acts.
Speaking at the Milimani Law Courts during the opening of Legal Awareness Week, LSK President Faith Odhiambo called on the government to address these horrific incidents, which include the recent murder of Wells Fargo Group Human Resource Manager Mr. Willis Ayieko, whose body was discovered in Sabatia, Vihiga, four days after he went missing on October 18, 2024.
Odhiambo highlighted other tragic cases, including 23-year-old Seth Nyakio Njeri, found dead in her Thika home, and 24-year-old Christine Nyakio, whose body was discovered in a Ngong swamp after she vanished from home.
The gruesome discoveries also include the mutilated bodies of Waris Dahabo Daud, her daughter Nusayba Abdi Mohamed, and niece Amina Abdirashid, found in Machakos and Bahati after going missing from Eastleigh, Nairobi.
The LSK extended heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims and pledged support in their pursuit of justice and accountability from security agencies. Odhiambo emphasized that these recent events represent blatant violations of human rights and the rule of law, noting the government’s failure to account for the lost lives.
She referenced Article 26 of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees the right to life, stressing that this right should only be deprived in accordance with the law. The LSK has urged the Director of Public Prosecutions to exercise his constitutional powers to ensure swift investigations and prosecutions of the perpetrators of these crimes.
Furthermore, the LSK called on the Inspector General of Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to take these alarming murders seriously and fulfill their constitutional mandate to serve and protect the public.
The society also demanded that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) maintain its independence and hold police officers accountable who refuse to cooperate with investigations.
The LSK asserted that it will not allow the country to regress into a cycle of unresolved violence reminiscent of past tragedies, such as the Tana and Yala river incidents.
The organization urged the state to uphold its responsibility to observe, respect, and protect the fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights as outlined in Article 21 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya, calling for thorough and transparent investigations into all reported deaths.