The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has accused police of aiding and abetting criminal gangs during Tuesday’s protests in Nairobi and now says it will initiate contempt of court proceedings against Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
According to LSK President Faith Odhiambo, the society has received credible eyewitness accounts indicating that goons who attacked protestors and looted property were working in concert with police officers.
“We are exasperated by video showing an attack by the criminal gang on an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Mr. Ken Ochieng’, who confirmed that he witnessed the crowd of goons who descended on him being dropped off along Koinange Street by a police Land Cruiser escorted by several boda bodas carrying multiple armed pillion passengers,” said Odhiambo.
The LSK also accused some officers of looting, citing images and video clips of police allegedly walking away from broken shops with electronics.
“We have seen images of police officers looting and making away with laptops from shops broken into by the goons,” Odhiambo added.
The society now plans to sue IG Kanja and CS Murkomen for contempt of court for failing to enforce an existing High Court order barring police officers from concealing their identity during protest operations.
The Judiciary has also raised concern over the violence. Judiciary spokesperson Paul Nderitu Ndemo urged the identification, arrest, and prosecution of goons who terrorized protestors, bystanders, and businesses, saying such criminality undermines the right to peaceful assembly.
The LSK further condemned the shooting of an unarmed vendor, identified as Eli, who was shot at close range by a police officer in the Nairobi CBD. The shooting took place during demonstrations calling for accountability in the death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Eli, who was selling masks at the time, was first taken to Bliss Medical Centre before being transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.
LSK Vice President Mwaura Kabata said delays in holding officers accountable only embolden lawlessness within the police service.
“The historic delays in prosecuting police officers undermine justice and often give room for the cases against criminals in uniform to be compromised,” he stated.
The International Commission of Jurists–Kenya has since called for a full audit of all firearms used by police during protests. The UK High Commission in Nairobi also joined calls for accountability, stating:
“Police forces must command the trust and confidence of those they are duty bound to serve and protect.”
