Law Society of Kenya Demands Accountability for Extrajudicial Killings and Police Brutality
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By Njeri Irungu
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has issued a stern condemnation of the escalating cases of extrajudicial killings and police brutality in the country, calling for immediate investigations and accountability for the perpetrators. In a strongly worded statement, LSK President Faith Odhiambo emphasized that the right to life, as enshrined in Article 26 of the Constitution, remains under grave threat due to the actions of security agencies mandated to protect it.
The statement follows a shocking investigative report by BBC Africa Eye, aired on 27th April 2025, which exposed the brutal execution of unarmed young Kenyans by officers of the National Security Organs during protests against the government. The revelations have sparked national outrage, with the LSK expressing deep concern over the police’s apparent disregard for constitutional allegiance, instead appearing to serve political interests rather than the people.
Further compounding the crisis, six innocent Kenyans were killed in cold blood on 28th April 2025 in Angata Barrikoi, Kilgoris, during a peaceful demonstration against land dispossession. The LSK has labeled these acts as criminal and demanded swift prosecution of the officers involved.
The Society also took issue with inflammatory remarks from Members of Parliament, including Mandera North’s Bashir Abdullahi, who dismissed the killings as inconsequential, and Homa Bay’s Peter Kaluma, who accused the BBC of misinformation. Dagoretti South’s John Kiarie was similarly criticized for alleging foreign influence behind the BBC’s exposé. The LSK rebuked these statements as reckless, undermining parliamentary dignity and betraying the public trust vested in elected leaders.
Of particular concern is the sluggish response from oversight bodies. Despite the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) reporting 60 cases of police brutality under investigation, only six have been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) nearly a year later. The LSK warned that such delays amount to dereliction of duty and complicity in injustice.
The LSK has demanded that the National Police Service Commission and IPOA prioritize investigations into last year’s mass killings during protests and resolve all pending cases without further delay. It has also called on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to order immediate investigations into officers captured using excessive force, and for the National Security Council to direct all investigative agencies to uncover the full extent of historical extrajudicial killings, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable. Additionally, the LSK insists that all documented reports on these killings be made public, with victims and witnesses placed under protection to facilitate prosecutions.
The LSK warned that constitutional protections for public officers do not extend to acts of impunity, urging all Kenyans, especially those in power, to act decisively to end the cycle of violence. Failure to do so, the statement concluded, risks pushing Kenya’s democracy and rule of law to the brink of collapse.
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