Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has called condemned the arrest of human rights activists and defenders during the End Femicide March in Nairobi.
The March which was held on Tuesday, December 10, the peaceful protesters marching were arrested and police throwing teargas on them.
In a statement released by LSK president Faith Odhiambo, on Monday, December 16, she confirmed the release of Director Houghton Irungu and five others arrested , and charged with unlawful assembly.
“Lawyers from the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), Amnesty International Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya were in court today to release five persons including Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton charged with unlawful assembly,” she stated.
In the statement, Odhiambo stated that the accused persons had no charge sheets, and were unconditionally released. She however, condemned the police acts, stating that the later had informed the regional police commander on 4, December of organizing the protests.
“Despite fulfilling all legal requirements, including submitting a notification to the office of the Regional Police Commander on 4, December 2024, protest organizers were met with disdain and obstruction. Additionally, the practice of holding persons without charging them has been abused in a bid to harass intimidate and threaten human rights defenders,” she stated.
LSK in the statement further made demands to the IG of police, following the use of teargas and disregard of the constitution on right to assembly.
The LSK letter demanded that IG of police must overhaul police tactics and prioritize peaceful engagement with protesters, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), to urgently investigate the conducts of the police, to ensure less use of force and repression.
Additionally, the international Affairs Unit (IAU), should expedite its investigations, on officers who are involved and make its finding made public, and The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to pursue charges against officers implicated in the cases of violation of human rights.
“Kenyan’s constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, demonstration and picketing, under Article 37, as well as freedom of expression under Article 33. The blatant violation of these protections , despite repeated judicial condemnation of such conduct, signals a shameful erosion of the rule of law,” she stated.
The cases of GBV in the country, are currently on the rise, with reports of IG of police stating 97 women were killed between the months of August and November, with related cases of femicide and GBV.
