The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has expressed deep concern over what it says is a disturbing rise in abductions and harassment targeting members of the legal profession.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, LSK President Faith Odhiambo described the trend as outright persecution and called for urgent investigations to bring the perpetrators to justice.
According to the Society, Kenya has recorded hundreds of abductions in the past two years. While some victims have safely returned home, others were discovered dead, and several remain missing to this day.
“The continued lack of accountability has left families in anguish and encouraged those behind these crimes to act with impunity,” the statement read.
LSK warned that the incidents amount to violations of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 29 of the Constitution, which protects every Kenyan from arbitrary arrest and ensures the right to security.
“We strongly condemn all acts of victimisation against Advocates of the High Court of Kenya in the course of their work. The disappearance of lawyers which has too often ended in death must be treated as a matter of grave national concern,” Odhiambo stated.
Despite the risks, the Society said it continues to stand with victims and their families by filing petitions for habeas corpus, helping trace missing persons, and pushing for compensation in cases where rights have been violated.
It praised lawyers who have volunteered their expertise to defend the rule of law even under threat.
The cost, however, has been heavy. Many advocates face constant threats to their lives and liberty for simply carrying out their professional duties, LSK noted, warning that such persecution undermines the justice system.
The Society recalled past cases where lawyers were abducted and later killed, among them Oscar Kingara and Willie Kimani.
It also highlighted the unresolved disappearance of Advocate Njau Kiyai, who was abducted in February 2021, saying the case had “gone cold” and reflected the state’s failure to deliver justice.
To push back against the trend, LSK announced that it is compiling a database of all unresolved cases of lawyer abductions and persecution.
The list will be submitted to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to press for action.
The Society further demanded that cold cases be reopened, ongoing ones fast-tracked, and accountability restored. It also appealed to families, colleagues, and clients of targeted advocates to support efforts aimed at protecting the legal fraternity.
