LSK demands prosecution of rogue police officers who killed anti-gov't protestors

The body wants the government to properly probe the killings dating back to last year’s Gen Z protests, where several young Kenyans were killed by people suspected to be police officers.

LSK president Faith Odhiambo led a team of advocates in castigating the spate of killings in the country during protests.

Speaking at their headquarters in Nairobi, the lawyers decried the inaction and slow pace of investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) into the killing by security officers.

"We are calling for accountability on the brutal killings of Kenyans and seeking investigations on all extrajudicial killings by officers of the national security organs. The right to life is enshrined and safeguarded under Article 26 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010," the LSK boss stated.

"The preservation of the right is not only crucial for its enjoyment by individuals but also bears a significant impact on our nation and its sovereignty."

"Invariably, the ramifications of disregard for and violation of the right to life not only indicates injustice and disregard of the rule of law, it equally paints a grueling picture of the state of our democracy and presents a damning indictment on the national security."

Odhiambo listed four demands to the national security organs and independent institutions to remedy the situation. 

This included NPS and IPOA resolving to solve the cases involving mass killings perpetrated by officers within the shortest time possible. 

They recommended that the ODPP instruct Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to sanction each officer implicated in the extra-judicial killing of the protestors. 

The legal body also advocated for the National Security Council to utilise all resources possible to take legal action against those found culpable. 

The final demand involved making public all documented reports of the investigations and the victims to be placed under Victims Protection. 

Further, the LSK weighed in on the deadly Narok clashes, where five people were killed following a dispute between the residents and officers over a 6,800-acre piece of land. 

On Tuesday, Police IG Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Amin Mohamed were on the edge in Ang’ata Barakoi, Narok County, following the shooting of five locals during the intense protests on Monday.

As a result, Kanja directed the transfer of senior police officers in the area, a move that was downplayed by LSK, noting that reassigning an officer elsewhere is not a solution as opposed to prosecution.