Law Society of Kenya (LSK) yesterday, condemned the brutal killing of Kenyans by security officers and called for immediate investigations into both recent and historical cases of extra-judicial executions. 

In a statement, LSK President Faith Odhiambo described the right to life as fundamental, emphasising that repeated violations by those mandated to protect it signify a disturbing erosion of democracy and the rule of law as enshrined in Article 26 of the Constitution. 

“The Kenyan reality is characterised by a symbolic irony where those whose sworn duty it is to preserve the right to life have proven to be the greatest threat to its enjoyment,” said Odhiambo. 

BBC exposé 

The statement came in the wake of a shocking exposé by “BBC Africa Eye” aired on April 27 that detailed how unarmed young Kenyans were executed during anti-government demonstrations last year. 

“With such unnerving revelations, it is worrisome that the national security organs, especially the police, have an obscure understanding of their allegiance, which lies with the nation and Constitution, not with regimes or their leaders,” she said. 

The LSK noted that the police continue to disregard constitutional rights, citing a fresh incident in Kilgoris where six residents of Angata Barrikoi were killed on April 28 during protests over land rights. 

“On April 28, 2025, six innocent Kenyans were killed in cold blood at the hands of rogue police officers,” Odhiambo said. 

“The Law Society of Kenya strongly condemns these criminal acts and calls for immediate action to investigate, identify, and prosecute these criminal perpetrators within the police.  

“The National Police Service compounded their contempt for the right to life by orchestrating vicious attacks against residents who were peacefully demonstrating.” 

Thoughtless remarks 

The LSK has also condemned those who have defended these acts, stating that they are worried about ‘insensitive and thoughtless’ remarks made by members of the political class when addressing these crucial matters of national security and the state of constitutionalism. 

“Our attention in this regard is drawn to the comments of the member of Parliament for Mandera North, Bashir Abdullahi, while addressing Parliament, where he dismissed the killing of Kenyans and suggested that Kenyans and the world should move on,” Odhiambo lamented. 

She also condemned Peter Kaluma, MP for Homa Bay Town, for putting out a statement making spurious accusations that the BBC was culpable for misinformation and should be banned from Kenyan airwaves. 

Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie also made a comment suggesting that one of Kenya’s longstanding international allies had sponsored the BBC’s recount of events of last year. 

“Such preposterous arguments and propaganda undermine the essence of parliamentary debate and put our country’s august House in unnecessary disrepute and at risk of ridicule,” Odhiambo said. 

Odhiambo reminded lawmakers, especially those who are also lawyers, of their constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law and represent the people, not their oppressors. 

IPOA ‘laxity’ 

The LSK expressed disappointment with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), accusing the agency of laxity.  

Despite registering 60 cases of police brutality in the past year, she lamented, the authority had completed only six investigations, with no explanation for the delays. 

“Laxity, complacency, and lack of urgency are tantamount to complicity. IPOA has overstretched the grace and patience of the Kenyan public, and we hereby put the authority on notice,” warned the LSK. 

To address the crisis, the LSK has recommended that the National Police Service Commission and IPOA escalate the investigations into the mass killings perpetrated by officers during last year’s demonstrations to a priority status and work to resolve the outstanding cases. 

Historical killings 

The LSK also demanded that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions instruct the Inspector General of Police to sanction and undertake immediate investigations into each of the officers captured and identified in existing images and videos. 

“We demand that the National Security Council issue a directive to all investigative agencies within the territory of Kenya to [provide] all resources and expertise necessary to establish the full extent of historical extrajudicial killings in Kenya,” Odhiambo said. 

She also demanded that all documented reports of any investigations and inquiries that have been undertaken regarding historical extrajudicial killings be made public, and that victims and witnesses be placed under victim protection. 

“These extrajudicial killings, the inaction in resolving and putting a stop to them, complicity in concealing their existence, and the impunity of justifying why they have been perpetrated do not fit within actions that are protected by law,” she added.