LSK urges group movement to curb protest disappearances
LSK advised protestors to be aware of who is being arrested and to record full names and the exact time and place individuals are picked up.
Amid the ongoing nationwide protests, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has urged demonstrators to take precautionary measures to protect themselves and others from unlawful arrests and possible disappearances.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo advised protestors to document arrests, stay in groups, and request police identification, saying these steps are vital for safeguarding legal rights and ensuring accountability.
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Odhiambo advised protestors to be aware of who is being arrested and to record full names, the exact time and place the individuals are picked up.
She said this information is essential when tracing detainees, especially since officers often fail to provide accurate records.
“Don’t resist arrest, but do ask the officer to identify themselves,” said Odhiambo in an interview on the NTV and Nation FM simulcast.
According to her, knowing these details makes it possible to check multiple police stations and insist on transparency regarding the whereabouts of those taken in.
She further encouraged demonstrators to record videos or livestream arrests and interactions with police whenever possible. Odhiambo noted that such real-time evidence can help counter false or trumped-up charges, especially in cases where authorities accuse protestors of violent acts or property damage.
Timestamped footage, she explained, can prove where someone was at the time of arrest and serve as critical evidence in legal defence.
The LSK president also warned protestors against carrying anything that may appear to be a weapon, as authorities have in the past used claims of robbery with violence to justify arrests.
She urged individuals not to resist arrest but to demand identification from officers and document those interactions.
Odhiambo emphasised the importance of moving in groups, saying that isolated individuals are easier to target and forcibly disappear.
“When you're alone, it's much easier for them to isolate and detain you without witnesses,” said Odhiambo. “Staying in groups makes it harder for anyone to disappear unnoticed.”
She recalled previous incidents where people were detained in little-known locations.
Odhiambo said it was only through timely communication and alerts from the public that the LSK and others were able to locate missing individuals.
Further, protesters should avoid provoking police, damaging property and carrying weapons.
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