Lawyers blame police for disappearances of five people

LSK President Isaac Okero condemned the heinous act where one of the members of the Law society of Kenya and the East Africa Law Society was found dead along with his client Mr Joseph Mwenda and taxi driver Mr Joseph Muiruri on Friday 1st July 2016. He further gave their stand that Law society of Kenya will go on strike as from Monday, 4th July 2016 as they await for answers from the Kenyan Government on the case . PHOTOS BY : FELIX KAVII

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) claims police are to blame for the disappearance of at least five people in the last month alone.

LSK president Isaac Okero alleged a group of Administration Police officers were behind the disappearance of Erickson Aluda Mambo and Brian Nzenze who, he said, were last seen being escorted to Kawangare Chief's Camp on June 1, 2016.

He said LSK has been receiving reports from the public on the disappearance of Kenyans, last seen at the hands of police.

But police denied his claims, saying all the cases were being investigated and urged for patience.

"All the cases of missing persons are being investigated. The investigations are at various stages and action will be taken on those responsible," said Inspector General of Police (IG) Joseph Boinnet.

Mr Boinnet said the cases cannot be used to justify claims that police are responsible for extra-judicial killings. "We are a law abiding service and whoever is found (culpable) will be dealt with. In any society there are rogue elements and the law always catches up with them," he said.

Okero demanded an explanation from police on what is happening in regard to the missing persons. "We demand to know what the IG and Ipoa are doing about this. We remind the IG that over one year has passed since the LSK wrote to him asking to know where investigations into the disappearance of Advocate Albert Muriuki had reached."

Mr Muriuki vanished on December 30, 2013.

Okero was reacting to the case of lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwenda and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri whose bodies were found in a river days after they went missing.

Mr Kimani was working as an investigator at the International Justice Mission.

Okero said that some lawyers were being threatened and intimidated daily.

"It is completely unacceptable for him or indeed any advocate to be subjected to threats, intimidation, fear of harm or the risk of deprivation of life while discharging one's duty as an advocate. It is an outrage that this is happening in our country."