In a fervent display of legal and civic advocacy, members of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and civil rights activists have come together to address the recent state crackdown on protesters.
Stephen Wanjiru, a council member of the LSK, detailed the society’s efforts in defending individuals arrested during recent demonstrations in Nairobi.
According to Wanjiru, 17 advocates from the LSK represented 87 individuals arrested in connection with the protests. The charges against these individuals included obstruction of traffic and public order offenses, with some accused of being drunk and disorderly. These charges, Wanjiru argued, were frivolous and targeted peaceful protesters exercising their constitutional rights under Article 37, which guarantees the freedom to assemble and protest.
The court has granted bail to most detainees at a nominal fee of 500 shillings, with all but a few having been released and reunited with their families. Thirteen protesters charged with being drunk and disorderly were also released after the court acknowledged the improbability of their condition given the circumstances of their arrest.
Gen Z Protesters Spend Night in Custody Without Food, Released on KSh 500 Bail, LSK Reveals
The advocate criticized the government’s use of legal mechanisms to frustrate and suppress peaceful dissent. He urged the state to respect the constitutional rights of citizens and called on the police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to halt the harassment of innocent Kenyans advocating for better governance and accountability.
“Therefore the Law Society of Kenya, we shall continue to provide a lot of legal support to the protesters, support to the Kenyans and the public in general, providing also legal advice for people to understand their rights and their fundamental freedoms, and also to provide legal support to those who are going to be arrested, as we continue to partner with various reform groups”. Stephen Wanjiru highlighted
Activist Kasmuel McOure condemned the government’s crackdown, describing it as a move towards a fascist police state under President William Ruto. McOure highlighted the arrest and mistreatment of lawyers who were defending the protesters and lamented the loss of lives, including the first martyr Alex Masai. He vowed continued resistance against what he termed as dictatorship and injustice, emphasizing the need for collective action.
“We reject this oppressing government of national unity. We reject the unity of billionaires under the leadership of Raila, Omolo Odinga and William samoi Ruto, and we ask them that they will still face the wrath of the Kenyan people. On Tuesday, on Thursday, we will be in the street to defend the homeland”. said Kasmuel McOure
Booker Ngesa Omole, representing the People’s Assembly and the Communist Party of Kenya, commended the LSK for its swift action in securing the release of detainees. He denounced the current administration’s police force as oppressive and vowed to transform it into a true service.
Omole also criticized proposed legislation that seeks to limit the right to protest, labeling it as an attempt to curtail freedoms and warning that it would face significant opposition.
He urged Gen Z to remain steadfast as the next protests will be held on Tuesday and Thursday. “As our comrades have said, we will organize at grassroots. We will organize in our communities, and we will roll out the next programs.
The press conference underscored a strong commitment to upholding constitutional rights and resisting governmental overreach, with calls for continued public engagement and activism to safeguard democratic freedoms in Kenya.