Kenya lawyers to strike for a week over advocate found tortured to death
Law Society of Kenya chairman Isaac Okero (centre) addresses the media in Nairobi on July 1, 2016. Mr Okero has demanded the resignation of police boss Joseph Boinnet, his Deputy and Interior minister Josephe Nkaissery over the killing of lawyer Willie Kimani. EUNICE KILONZO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Lawyers in Kenya have vowed to strike for a week over the killing of advocate Willie Kimani.
They have also demanded the resignation of Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet, his Deputy Samuel Arachi and Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery.
The bodies of Mr Willie Kimani, his client Mr Josephat Mwendwa and taxi driver, Mr Joseph Muiruri, were pulled out of the Ol-Donyo Sabuk River, east of Nairobi on Friday.
Security officers
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) chairman Mr Isaac Okero, threatened to file a petition for the removal of the senior security officers if they do not heed the call to resign.
On Friday, Mr Okero said: “Today is a sad day, we have lost one of our own who is lying at the City Mortuary. The rule of law is under a serious threat, where the guardians of the rule of law (lawyers) risk their lives. Then every Kenyan must be afraid. We feel that this failure by those charged with the security of the country cannot be tolerated.”
Purple ribbons
He said Mr Kimani had been an advocate for barely five years and his death was unacceptable.
“Lawyers will continue wearing the purple ribbons until our brother is laid to rest,” he said on Friday evening at the Milimani Law Courts.
Lawyers have also demanded the closure of the Syokimau Administration Police camp in Machakos County, describing it as a “death camp”.
Lawyer found tortured to death
A bound and mutilated body found dumped in a river outside Nairobi was identified Friday as that of the Kenyan lawyer who disappeared last week after challenging police in court.
A corpse believed to be that of young lawyer Mr Kimani was found late Thursday wrapped in a sack and floating in the Ol Donyo Sabuk River. His wrists were bound with rope and his eyes appeared to have been gouged out.
The LSK president Mr Okero said it was “a dark day for the rule of law in Kenya.” “Our worst fears are confirmed. Advocates and citizens are at risk of elimination by police death squads,” he said.
The body was identified by friend and fellow lawyer Duncan Kinuthia. Mr Kimani’s body was found alongside another — similarly bound and wrapped — believed to be that of either his client Mr Mwenda or taxi driver Mr Muiruri. A third body was spotted in the river but was yet to be retrieved by press time.
“The bodies are in a very bad state and it seems they were tortured a lot before they were killed,” said Mr Kinuthia.
Mr Kimani disappeared on June 23 along with Mr Mwenda and Mr Muiruri after attending a court hearing at Makovo Law Courts on the outskirts of the capital. The case accuses local police of harassing and intimidating Mr Mwenda in a bid to have him withdraw a complaint against a senior officer with the local Administration Police unit.
