In a troubling turn of events, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has raised alarms regarding the recent kidnapping of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who was due to attend a book launch for Martha Karua in Nairobi over the past weekend. LSK President Faith Odhiambo addressed the media on Wednesday, characterizing the abduction as a grave violation of democratic ideals and a direct threat to the essential freedoms that underpin a democratic society.
In her remarks, Odhiambo called for immediate intervention from the international community, stressing the critical need to highlight this serious infringement.
“We are seeing a distressing return to an age marked by abductions and violence, which jeopardizes media freedoms and the overall democratic process,”
She urged a swift global response to the situation.Furthermore, the LSK’s condemnation extended to ongoing challenges within Kenya’s judiciary and law enforcement agencies, emphasizing the desperate need for reforms. The society expressed significant concern about corruption within the judicial system and a glaring lack of transparency in handling cases, particularly when it comes to police misconduct. Odhiambo called on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to join forces with LSK in crafting a thorough framework to address complaints, enhance case tracking, and ensure accountability to the public.
The judiciary must live up to its constitutional responsibilities,”
Odhiambo affirmed and pointed out that recent allegations of bribery and indecision have severely eroded public trust in the judicial system.
On the matter of police conduct, LSK demanded immediate investigations into torture and fatalities that occurred during the protests against the Finance Bill 2024.Odhiambo urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to conduct comprehensive inquiries and hold those responsible accountable. She insisted that inquiry findings should lead to disciplinary actions against implicated officers and that cases be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for potential criminal charges.
“We require accountability for all individuals responsible for police violence during these protests,”
LSK also called for the formation of an inter-agency oversight committee to ensure that the recommendations are implemented, along with a public report to follow.
Additionally, Odhiambo criticized the government’s inaction regarding extrajudicial killings and kidnappings, claiming that the executive branch has provided nothing more than “lip service” to these serious concerns. The Law Society of Kenya urged for a stronger political commitment to address these violations, which continue to threaten the rule of law in the nation.
Maintaining democracy requires vigilance and accountability from both the authorities and society as a whole.
