The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has demanded authorities to expedite investigations into the disappearance of lawyer Wilson Hassan Nandwa and his client.
It is reported that Nandwa disappeared hours after he allegedly visited the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (APTU) head offices in Nairobi to receive Elgiva Bwire, a jailed terrorist who completed his jail term.
In a statement by LSK Chief Executive Officer Mercy Wambua, the association termed their disappearance a brazen threat to the Bill of Rights.
“In light of the above, and in line with its mandate, the Law Society of Kenya demands that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Independent Policing Authority expedite the investigations into this matter and indeed all others similar matters to identify the evil perpetrators who must then be apprehended, arraigned in court and prosecuted accordingly,” said Wambua.
According to Wambua, it is clear that Nandwa was abducted in the course of his professional work.
The society is demanding the release of the two not later than 24 hours failure to which, it says it will be left with no choice but to file applications for them to be produced in court immediately without any further notice.
“We, therefore, demand his immediate release together with his client Mr. Elgiva Bwire and in any event not later than 24 hours failure to which, the Law Society of Kenya will file applications for habeaus corpus without any further notice,” LSK concluded.
Further, the association said that the rise in forced disappearances of advocates as well as heinous and brutal murders of members of the public is a deprivation of human rights and must be probed.
Meanwhile, the family of Muslim scholar has pleaded with the government to help find him.
And in the event Prof Nandwa is in custody, the family urged the police to produce him in court.
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims chairman Hassan ole Naado and his National Muslim Leaders Forum counterpart Sheikh Abdullahi Abdiwho, said they were concerned that the police had resorted to profiling and targeting Muslim leaders in the fight against terror.
“The state should investigate this matter and ensure the constitutional rights of its citizens, regardless of their religious background, are protected,” Naado said.
