The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has issued a grave warning over an alleged politically-sponsored scheme to instigate armed violence against peaceful protesters, terming it a threat to national security and constitutional order.
In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, LSK President Faith Odhiambo cited growing public concern over reported plans by certain politicians and operatives to deploy armed groups in response to upcoming youth-led demonstrations, particularly those expected on June 25 in remembrance of lives lost during last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests.
Odhiambo referenced past international atrocities, including Sudan’s deployment of the Janjaweed militia in Darfur, warning that Kenya risks sliding into anarchy if political repression is not swiftly curtailed. “History is replete with sad stories of countries that brought themselves down to their knees because of desperate extremist measures or political repression,” she stated.
The Society pointed to a viral video by Tiaty MP William Kassait Kamket as an example of the inflammatory rhetoric currently circulating among political figures. In the video, Kamket is heard threatening to transport armed bandits to Nairobi to confront protestors, which LSK condemned as a criminal act bordering on incitement to violence and gross abuse of constitutional rights.
“This narrative must be seen for what it is – an effort to diminish the human rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights, and undermine the political views and sovereign authority of the people of Kenya,” the statement added.
Odhiambo emphasized that Kenya’s Constitution provides for lawful dissent, with clearly established institutions to handle threats to national security, and no justification exists for arming civilians to counter demonstrators. “It is inimical to the rule of law to pit Kenyans against themselves under the guise of protecting the state,” she noted.
The LSK demanded that the National Security Council and other responsible state agencies urgently investigate and arrest all individuals involved in the alleged plot. The Society further argued that those implicated in the planning and incitement of such violence should be treated as enemies of the state and prosecuted under both Kenyan and international law for crimes against humanity.
In a related concern, the LSK revealed it had received credible reports that the home of a Kenyan citizen, Mr. Ndingaui Kinyagi, had been raided by DCI officers who confiscated personal belongings including laptops and passports. His whereabouts remain unknown, and the LSK has demanded immediate investigations, urging authorities to guarantee his safety and allow legal representation.
Odhiambo concluded by urging Kenyans to protect the country’s constitutional gains and avoid descending into chaos. “Let us not flush our country down the drain; we must jealously guard the semblance of stability we have enjoyed under our new Constitutional dispensation.”
She reminded all stakeholders that the Constitution offers an elaborate roadmap for governance and accountability, and that it must be respected to preserve the nation’s unity, peace, and liberty.
