Lawyers, activists hold countrywide protests over Willie Kimani's killing
What you need to know:
- Litigants who turned up in court were referred to the registry to be given new dates of their cases.
- In Machakos, lawyers said they will march to the Mavoko law courts on Wednesday.
Lawyers and members of the civil society began countrywide protests over killing of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client and a taxi driver.
Lawyers boycotted court sessions and joined human rights activists in demonstrations in most towns across the country.
In Nairobi, the protests started at Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park, Nairobi.
Protestors, donning white t-shirts with red spots to indicate bloodshed carried three coffins painted white and red. They also waved placards condemning the police for the killings.
They also wore purple ribbons in honour of the three people suspected to have been killed by police.
Members of the civil society protest in Nairobi on July 4, 2016 over killing of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client and taxi driver. PHOTO | SAMUEL KARANJA |
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Chief Executive Patricia Nyaundi said the organisation will work with other lobby groups to ensure human rights are upheld in Kenya.
Mr Peter Kiama, a civil society member said they condemn extrajudicial killings by police. “We will not accept such killings again,” he said.
Courts remained deserted in Nakuru as lawyers took to the streets to protest the killings.
Litigants who turned up in court were referred to the registry to be given new dates of their cases.
Led by their branch Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Chairman Mr Frank Mwangi, the lawyers vowed to boycott courts the whole week in solidarity with their colleagues across the country.
In Machakos, lawyers said they will march to the Mavoko Law Courts on Wednesday.
South Eastern LSK Chairman Andrew Makundi said they will hold the demonstration at the court as it is where the lawyer, his client Josephat Mwenda (motorcycle taxi rider) and their taxi driver Joseph Muiruri were last seen on June 23.
The three had attended a hearing of a traffic case. Their their bodies recovered from Ol-Donyo Sabuk River in Machakos County on June 30.
Lawyers and members of the civil society outside Machakos law courts on July 4, 2016. PHOTO | STEPHEN MUTHINI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Lawyers in Thika also boycotted court and said they will apply for licences to own guns for their own protection.
In Eldoret, lawyers marched to Central Police Station.
“No one should die while defending the rule of law and administration of justice,” said Mr Zephania Yego, the North Rift LSK chairman.
(Reporting by Samuel Karanja, Eric Matara, Joseph Openda, Stephen Muthini, Mary Wambui and Gerald Bwisa)
