On Friday, the legal fraternity conducted a peaceful procession in Nairobi foremost to demonstrate against the barbaric murder of Advocate Kyalo Mbobu by unknown assailants, hence, demanding not only quick justice but also high professionalism in terms of members security.
Wearing black suits and purple ribbons, members of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) started their walk at the Milimani Law Courts and then passed through the city centre. After a short walk, lawyers who were inline on Kaunda Street saw the necessity of honoring the late Mbobu by observing a moment of silence at his law office.
Later on, the procession went to the Supreme Court before being taken to the office of Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja where the procession handed over a letter requesting prompt investigations.
With LSK President Faith Odhiambo leading the march, she condemned the killing and referred it to the 2016 murder of lawyer Willy Kimani as an example. She then added, that apart from terrifying the workers, the attacks also shake the peaceful existence of the country’s justice system.
“The perpetrators of this abominable crime should be caught and punished. In no way manner should lawyers become victims of intimidation or eliminated while performing their lawful activities,” Odhiambo said.
Senior Counsel Philip Murgor also shared similar views with her and added that lawyers operate in harsh conditions when they defend the rule of law and the state should, therefore, accord them protection. “It is the responsibility of the government to secure those who are on the side of justice and save them from attacks,” he stated.
Besides, speaking during the march, Lawyer Pravin Bowry, in his speech, reminded authorities that it is the police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) who have direct responsibility to ensure that Mbobu and his family get justice.
The march was a demonstration of lawyer’s concerns over the issue of insecurity which has been the cause of the uproar within the legal profession that, in turn, led the advocates to request the government to implement concrete security measures especially to those lawyers who have been the target of violence.