Defending justice: LSK to lead nationwide protest to honour slain lawyer Kyalo Mbobu
LSK said the peaceful procession would begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Milimani Law Courts, proceed along Kenyatta Avenue, and end at Vigilance House, where a memorandum of grievances will be delivered to Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has announced it will hold a nationwide purple ribbon march on Friday, September 12, to protest rising attacks on legal practitioners following the assassination of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu.
In a statement on Wednesday, LSK said the peaceful procession would begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Milimani Law Courts, proceed along Kenyatta Avenue, and end at Vigilance House, where a memorandum of grievances will be delivered to Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja.
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Mbobu, a senior advocate with more than 30 years of experience, was fatally shot on Tuesday evening along Magadi Road, Nairobi. Assailants on a motorbike reportedly targeted his head before fleeing.
LSK President Faith Odhiambo said the march, organised in collaboration with all eight LSK branches, aims to highlight the growing dangers faced by legal professionals.
“Members are encouraged to attend and participate in the march and don the purple ribbon, in honour and solidarity,” she said.
Call for swift probe
The society also urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to fast-track inquiries into Mbobu’s murder.
“Our security agencies have an immediate duty to act decisively in putting an end to this growing menace. Such calamitous levels of insecurity place our country at the precipice of lawlessness, a state we all bear a Constitutional duty to protect our country from,” Odhiambo said.
She added that the march will demand justice for the profession, stressing that violence and intimidation against lawyers must not continue.
“Too often, Advocates have been victimised and targeted for the work that they do. This incident and other acts of violence, intimidation and retribution against Advocates of the High Court of Kenya represent a damning test to the administration of Justice,” LSK said.
The Senior Counsel Bar (SCB), led by SC Philip Murgor, also condemned Mbobu’s killing, describing it as the work of a trained assassin.
The Bar pointed to a coincidental social media post by Captain (Rtd) Kung’u Muigai, a former client of Mbobu’s, referencing a 33-year-old land dispute on the very day the lawyer was killed.
“Is it a coincidence that he is then gunned down on the same day? Whatever the case, no stone should be left unturned by the DCI to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to book,” Murgor said.
Alleged judicial corruption
Muigai’s post referred to a disputed 443-acre farm in Thika dating back to the 1990s. He alleged judicial corruption and questioned why his multiple petitions had failed over the years. The Judiciary has since dismissed his claims.
Meanwhile, the DCI said it is deploying all available resources to track the assailants and establish their motive.
“The DCI is committed to ensuring that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice. Our investigators are working diligently, employing all available resources and expertise to piece together the events surrounding this incident,” the agency said.
In her message of condolence, Chief Justice Martha Koome described Mbobu as a distinguished jurist, scholar, and mentor whose contributions to legal education and public service were immense.
“The brutal murder of such a distinguished jurist and scholar is not only a personal tragedy for his family but also a grievous assault on the values of justice, democracy, and the rule of law,” she said, urging authorities to deliver justice swiftly.
Mbobu, who chaired the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal from 2013 to 2019 and lectured at both the University of Nairobi and the Kenya School of Law, is remembered for shaping generations of lawyers and advancing Kenya’s legal scholarship.
The Purple Ribbon March is expected to bring together lawyers nationwide in a united call for justice, safety, and the protection of legal professionals from targeted violence.
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