Lawyers’ body is insensitive in opposing curfew, says Kibicho

The Government has accused lawyers of being insensitive to the coronavirus pandemic by challenging the dusk to dawn curfew.

Through an affidavit by Interior Ministry Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho (pictured) in his response to a suit filed by Law Society of Kenya, the Government accused lawyers of seeking populist agenda instead of advancing public interest at a time when the world is seeking survival of humanity. Dr Kibicho swore that many countries have imposed similar measures to contain spread of the virus and wondered why the society in its right senses would want the public to be exposed by lifting the curfew.

“It is something which is within public knowledge that Covid-19 pandemic has occasioned massive loss of lives and great economic loss in countries where human interaction was not limited. The aim of the curfew is to protect human life and not illegal as claimed by LSK,” swore Kibicho.

According to Kibicho, the 7pm to 5am curfew is the least the Government could do to save the situation as opposed to a total lockdown which would be of massive inconvenience to everyone. He added that the lawyers are not justified in their push to be included as essential service providers so that the curfew does not apply to them, stating that no courts operate at night to make their services essential.

“LSK is lying by insinuating that the curfew has curtailed their work. They are just like other Kenyans who may carry out their trade within the hours of daylight. We wonder what they want to do at night since courts ordinarily don’t operate in the dark,” said Kibicho.

LSK on Monday filed a petition challenging the night curfew arguing that it is unconstitutional and meant to curtail freedom of movement.

The society argued that the curfew was being misused by police officers to unleash terror on members of the public who find themselves outside their homes after the prescribed time as witnessed on Friday last week.

According to LSK, the curfew poses danger to the general health and safety of thousands of Kenyans particularly the poor and vulnerable as it is disproportionate and does not take into consideration their plights.

LSK also wanted lawyers to be included in the list of essential service providers and be allowed to roam around anytime of the night without being harassed by police.

Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai in his response, said he did not issue any order to police officers to unleash terror on members of the public, and that the actions were within the law to force people obey the curfew order.

“LSK has not adduced any evidence to support claims of police brutality. The claims are premised on hearsay; if they have any evidence then they should report to us the instances when police abused their powers to enable my office take action,” said IG.