The President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Her Excellency Faith Odhiambo, has issued a sharp rebuke against what she describes as an emerging and deeply troubling pattern of police intimidation targeting lawyers across the country.
In a strongly worded statement released Tuesday, Odhiambo decried recent incidents where police officers allegedly appeared at the homes of lawyers late at night—actions she termed as “unlawful, unacceptable, and a threat to the rule of law.”
“A worrying trend has manifested of intimidation of lawyers as part of a scheme to harass their clients. This is an old trick in the book against liberties, and it has no place in Kenya,” said Odhiambo.
The LSK President emphasized that the Constitution of Kenya provides robust safeguards to protect not just legal practitioners but also the sanctity of justice and due process. She warned that overzealous or uninformed actions by law enforcement risk undoing the democratic and legal progress the country has made.
“The police must not cross that indelible line the constitution places in defence of justice and the rule of law. Let us not turn back the clock by unlawful orders or uninformed zeal,” she added.
Odhiambo stressed that legal professionals, like all citizens, are entitled to be treated with dignity and fairness. She called for the police to follow formal procedures when seeking cooperation from advocates, including issuing lawful summons instead of resorting to nighttime visits meant to intimidate.
The Law Society of Kenya has now called on relevant authorities to investigate the incidents and hold those responsible to account. Odhiambo affirmed the Society’s unwavering commitment to defend its members and uphold the principles enshrined in the Constitution.
“This emerging habit must stop,” she said.
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