Amnesty International Kenya yesterday held a free legal clinic to mark the 10th anniversary of its registration in Kenya.

The event was the culmination of 10 legal clinics held across the country on October 10 in Siaya, Kilifi, Bungoma, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret and Garissa to mark the occasion.

Speaking to guests, Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton celebrated activists who had championed human rights throughout Kenya’s history.

“We celebrate the contribution, the resilience of students, workers, journalists, business owners, lawyers, and doctors, from all walks of life. Many of these people are now occupying positions of authority and responsibility in our state and across our counties,” he said.

However, Irungu pointed out that more work needed to be done in the protection of human rights. He lamented the fact that inequality, impunity and discrimination persist despite Kenya having promulgated what he termed “one of the most progressive constitutions in the world”.

“Fifty two percent of Kenyans do not believe that there is equality under the law, and it is here that Amnesty International Kenya must continue to invest its investigative research and its campaigns for the last decade and for the decade to come,” he said.

He called upon the government to operationalize the National Coroner’s Service Act to enhance police accountability and urged the courts to avoid using contempt of court proceedings to intimidate journalists.

Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu was the chief guest at the event, which was also graced by Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Roseline Odede, and National Police Service spokesperson Bruno Shioso.

Mwilu, who represented Chief Justice Martha Koome, affirmed the partnership between the Judiciary and Amnesty International Kenya. Mwilu reiterated the Judiciary’s commitment to expanding access to justice for Kenyans. LSK vice chair Faith Odhiambo condemned the extrajudicial killings of activists and lawyers representing victims of human rights violations.

“We still carry the stories of the men, women, and children who have suffered under the hands of law enforcement authorities,” she said. She urged all organizations present at the event to join hands to put an end to the menace of police brutality. Haji expressed concern over continued extra-judicial killings and forced evictions and pledged to withdraw trumped-up charges against human rights defenders.

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