OMBUDSMAN AND LAW SOCIETY OF KENYA CONDEMN RISE IN EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS.
BY BENARD MULWA.
The Office of the Ombudsman and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) have condemned a troubling increase in extrajudicial killings across the nation, expressing grave concerns over recent violent deaths. Faith Odhiambo, President of the LSK, and Ombudsman CEO Mercy K. Wambua, OGW, described the recent incidents as heinous violations of human rights.
Among the victims highlighted were Wells Fargo Group Human Resource Manager Willis Ayieko, found dead in Vihiga four days after his disappearance, and several young individuals, including 23-year-old Seth Nyakio Njeri and 24-year-old Christine Nyakio, whose bodies were discovered under suspicious circumstances in Kiambu and Ngong, respectively. The brutal murders of Waris Dahabo Daud and her relatives, whose mutilated bodies were uncovered in Machakos, have further shocked the nation.
In their statement, Odhiambo and Wambua extended condolences to the victims' families and called for justice. They emphasized that Article 26 of the Kenyan Constitution guarantees the right to life, urging the government to account for these lost lives.
The LSK urged the Director of Public Prosecutions to initiate immediate investigations into these killings, calling for the Inspector General of Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to act decisively. They insisted that law enforcement agencies must fulfill their duty to protect citizens and uphold the rule of law.
Additionally, the LSK appealed to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to ensure police accountability, particularly against officers who obstruct investigations. They vowed not to allow Kenya to revert to a state where unresolved deaths haunt the nation.
The statement concluded with a call for the government to uphold its constitutional mandate to protect human rights, emphasizing that families affected by these tragedies deserve justice and closure.
