LSK urges police boss, DPP to resolve rising murder cases

Residents seek free legal advice at Kisii Law Courts durind free legal awareness week on October 28, 2024. Law Society of Kenya South West branch Secretary General Justus Maeche asked residents to turn up in large numbers for free legal advice. [Sammy Omingo,  Standard]

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Igonga and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to urgently address cases of extra judicial killings in the country.

Addressing a press conference at Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi on Monday, during the launch of free legal awareness week, LSK President Faith Odhiambo raised concern over extra judicial killings and involuntary deaths that have been witnessed in the country recently.

Ms Odhiambo asked the police boss and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to take the recent wave of horrifying murders seriously and perform their mandate as prescribed under Articles 245 and 247 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.

"Respectively as the said offices are sworn to serve and protect the public and uphold the Rule of law. The LSK further demands the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) to summon and sanction police officers who refuse to cooperate with the investigating authorities to ensure suspects are brought to book," she said.

She said LSK will not sit back and allow the country to return to the era of unresolved incidences and dumping of bodies in rivers Tana and Yala.

The LSK president who was flanked by among others her deputy Mwaura Kabata cited the recent horrific killings including the Wells Fargo Group Human Resource Manager Willis Ayieko whose body was found in a stream four days after he went on October 18, 2024 and Seth Nyakio Njeri, 23, who was found murdered in a house in Biafra, Thika, Kiambu county.

"Christine Nyakio aged 24 was found murdered in a swamp in Ngong after disappearing from her home, Waris Dahabo Daud, her daughter Nusayba Abdi Mohamed, and niece Amina Abdirashid whose mutilated bodies were discovered at Machakos, Park Road, and Bahati areas respectively after they had gone missing from Eastleigh, Nairobi are some of the cases that have been reported," Odhiambo.

This comes after activist Boniface Mwangi was released from police custody after he was arrested at his Machakos house on Sunday morning.

Mwangi who had been detained at Kamukunji Police Station, Nairobi was released on Monday on police  free bond and ordered to report to Industrial area police station in Nairobi for further investigations.

The activist was arrested following his post on social media encouraging Kenyans to “occupy” the Standard Chartered Marathon that was held on Sunday.

His wife, Njeri Mwangi, and several activists had on Sunday gathered at the police station demanding his immediate release.

On his social media account, Mwangi had encouraged Kenyans to attend the Sunday Standard Chartered Marathon with flags and placards and  peacefully protest against government injustices.

“Carry your flag, whistle, placard, and run to entrench justice within our borders. Ensure no senior official present can ignore our message. Chant, ‘Sitasimama Maovu Yakitawala’ (I will not stop as evil rules),” Mwangi posted.

The activist said the #OccupyStandChart protest was meant to honor Kenyans who died during anti-government demonstrations in June and July.

Police were expected to arraign him in court on Monday to faces charges of alleged incitement to violence.