LSK demands end to extrajudicial killings, police brutality
Odhiambo expresses concern that the democratic rights of civilians were wantonly being abused by security organs and that could be a recipe for problems
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called on the authorities to address brutality meted on Kenyans by law enforcement agencies and bring to book those responsible.
Addressing the press, LSK President Faith Odhiambo demanded that extrajudicial killings of citizens needs to stop and investigated as well as she expressed concern that the democratic rights of civilians were wantonly being abused by security organs and that could be a recipe for problems.
“The Right to Life is enshrined and safeguarded under Article 26 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.The preservation of the right is not only crucial for its enjoyment by individuals, but bears significant impact on our nation and its sovereignty. Invariably, the ramifications of disregard for and violation of the right to life not only indicates injustice and disregard for the rule of law. It equally paints a grueling picture on the state of our democracy, and represents a damning indictment on our national security, and the ability of our security organs to undertake their mandate,” she said.
Odhiambo added: “Historically, extrajudicial killings have emerged among the greatest threats to the right to life. To this effect, the Kenyan reality is characterized by a symbolic irony where those whose sworn duty it is to preserve the right to life, have proven to be the greatest threat to its enjoyment. Under the prevailing constitutional order, the people of Kenya sought to end the inveterate abuse of security organs as agents of political repression, through excessive use of force and arbitrary extrajudicial killings.”
“However the past two years, has proven that this relic of old continues to prevail upon Kenya. It is a matter of general consensus that this cannot go on.”
A recent BBC expose on the police brutality during Gen Z inspired protests that went viral and produced by Africa Eye Team also caught the eye of LSK who demanded that action be taken.
“The investigative report aired by the BBC Africa Eye on April 27,2025, has left the country in shock over the malice, impunity and brutality with which unarmed young Kenyans were executed by officers of the National Security Organs, for merely expressing their dissatisfaction with the Government of the day. With such unnerving revelations, it is worrisome that the National Security Organs, especially the police have an obscure understanding of their allegiance which lies with the nation and the constitution,” she added.
Odhiambo also condemned the vicious attacks of residents in Angata Barrikoi in Kilgoris, Narok County.
“As if totally oblivious of the atrocities perpetrated during last year’s Gen Z demonstrations, the National Police Service (NPS) compounded their contempt for the right to life and the rule of law by orchestrating vicious attacks against the residents of Angata Barrikoi, Kilgoris who were peacefully demonstrating against threats to deprive and dispossess them of their property and deny them their right to enjoy that property. On April 28, 2025, six (6) innocent Kenyans were killed in cold blood at the hands of rogue police officers. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) strongly condemns these criminal acts, and calls for immediate action to investigate, identify and prosecute these criminal perpetrators within the police,” she said.
The LSK President also called out some Legislators for their responses to the recent brazen acts on citizens, terming some of their thoughts as insensitive and thoughtless at a time Kenyans were in pain over losses of lives.
“Our attention is drawn to the recent comments of the MP for Mandera North Bashir Abdullahi while addressing Parliament where he dismissed the killing of Kenyans while suggesting that people should move on. In a separate instance, the MP for Homabay Town Constituency Peter Kaluma put out a statement making spurious accusations to the effect that the BBC was culpable for misinformation and should be banned from Kenyan airwaves. We remind elected representatives that the authority bestowed on them is held as a public trust and is for the benefit of the people of Kenya. Therefore such contempt and haughtiness as we have witnessed is both shameful and undermines the obligations set out under Chapter 6 of the Constitution,” read the statement.
